Peter Crouch is being urged to reach his century of Premier League goals on the grand stage against Manchester United this weekend.
The 35 year-old veteran made it 99 in the top flight by heading Stoke’s third in the first half of Saturday’s clinical 3-1 win at Sunderland.
That tees him up to reach his milestone against United, at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday – and to also celebrate his forthcoming birthday and his recent one-year contract extension. “It would be great story and he deserves it,” said manager Mark Hughes.
Hughes added, “He’s a great guy and still very effective at this level and will always create problems for the opposition. But he doesn’t get much help from the officials, I have to say. He got splattered a couple of times and got a big bump on his face.
He broke his nose last week. “But he’s put a shift in. He’s a great pro, a great player and a great guy. He continues to defy people who question whether we should have given him a new contract, we have no doubts. You saw his energy and he scored a fantastic goal. If you put the ball in the right area, he’s likely to get on the end of things.”
