Stoke City forward Peter Crouch has revealed his frustration at a lack of game time this season, but he has vowed to battle for his place in the Potters side despite not starting a Premier League match this season.
Crouch frustrated by lack of game time
The forward was a regular in Mark Hughes' first team last season, making 33 league appearances, but it has been a different story in this campaign.
A number of new arrivals have increased competition for places and Crouch has had to settle for a place on the bench in every one of Stoke's 11 Premier League games and has seen just 45 minutes of league action this season.
Speaking to the Stoke Sentinel, Crouch admitted that this season has been "really frustrating" for him as he is used to playing regularly, having made over 130 appearances in the four years he has been at the Britannia Stadium.
His frustration has been added to when seeing "all the crosses coming over" and he said he would "love to be out and involved more".
He admitted that he does not know what else he can do, but given the opportunity he said that he will do everything he can to "try and convince" Mark Hughes.
However, it is not going to be easy as Crouch said that there are "lots of players wanting to get back in" after the club signed 12 players during the summer transfer window.
His Stoke City future
Despite his lack of game time, Crouch has said that he will continue to fight for his place ahead of the January transfer window.
"I want to force my way back into the side...I enjoy playing for the club", he said.
He believes the club is moving in the "right direction" and he wants to be part of the current team, which, in his opinion, can "achieve something".
However, with 12 new signings in the summer, he faces plenty of competition for places.
The fact that Crouch has had so little game-time, even in the two-match absence of Mame Biram Diouf while he was on compassionate leave following the tragic death of his mother, shows how far the 34-year-old has fallen down Mark Hughes' pecking order. Hughes chose to start with Joselu up front for the matches against Swansea City and Watford.
Can Crouch solve Stoke's goalscoring struggles?
Following Stoke's goalless draw with Newcastle United on Saturday, the Potters are the league's lowest goalscorers, having found the net on just nine occasions in 11 games.
However, at 6ft 7in, Crouch is a good option. Not just his aerial power, but also his ability to hold the ball up and lay it off to Stoke's attacking talent including Bojan, Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri.
He is also a player with a wealth of experience, having made nearly 400 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 94 goals. He has also won 42 caps for England, scoring 22 goals.
Since moving to the Britannia Stadium in 2011, the forward has scored 33 goals in 107 starts and 30 substitute appearances.