Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has hailed the early season form of Peter Crouch.

Pulis believes Crouch's on-going contribution to both the team and the football club can be easily overlooked following the recent publicity surrounding the arrivals of Michael Owen and Charlie Adam.

"All the new lads are settling in and buying in to what we are doing at Stoke City," Pulis told The Sentinel, "but for me Peter was a real marquee signing when we bought him last year.

"He's the one who really lifted the bar for us at that time - and he has since gone on to prove why we were so keen to bring him in.

"I think his performances this season have also been absolutely fantastic, while everyone can see and hear what our supporters think of him."