Mark Hughes: 'Not many are better than Asmir Begovic'

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has claimed that Asmir Begovic is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, insisting that there are "very few that are better than him".

The Bosnia-Herzegovina international earned his eighth clean sheet of the season in Saturday's 1-0 win over Hull City, and Hughes was quick to praise his number one.

Begovic made a crucial save from David Meyler just before the Potters broke the deadlock and the importance of the 26-year-old's performance was not lost on Hughes.

"He made a great save [from Meyler]," Hughes told reporters. "Once again he has come up with an outstanding save, it actually got deflected. At the time I thought it was a clear-cut shot but it got deflected and made it a more difficult save.

"He's done that all year, and that's what we expect of him now. He's a top keeper, in my view there's very few that are better than him.

"He's consistent, good stature, good presence, on the field and off it. All the qualities I expect of a top line keeper."

Begovic recently admitted that he was flattered by rumours linking him with moves to the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United.