Mark Hughes 'not open' to Peter Crouch sale

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has insisted that unsettled forward Peter Crouch is 'not for sale'.

The former England international has struggled for first-team football at the Britannia this season - only making one start in the Premier League - and he was an unused substitute in Stoke's 2-0 win over Hull City last time out.

On Saturday night, Crouch responded to a tweet that suggested he was an effective player on FIFA 17 by seemingly aiming a dig at Hughes over his lack of action this season.

The Welshman, however, has insisted that Crouch is still very much part of his plans at the Britannia Stadium.

"I'm not thinking in those terms. It's about having a balance in the squad. Pete clearly gives us a different type of threat," Hughes told reporters.

"The key is to have different types of players to give the opposition different types of problems. All our strikers offer different things and Pete is very much a player we value and one we'll use as we see fit.

"He's going to play a part this year, he knows that, and he'll get the right amount of games I feel."

Stoke will attempt to continue their upturn in form when they welcome Swansea City in the Premier League on Monday night.