Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland has thanked manager Mark Hughes for publicly declaring that he will be the club's number one at the start of the new campaign.
The Potters sold Asmir Begovic, who had been the number one for four years, to Chelsea for £8m allowing Butland to be promoted up the pecking order.
He is quoted as saying by The Sentinel: "Confidence wise it's brilliant to hear it confirmed but it was always a target, and in my own mind there was no way I was not going to let it not be the case.
"I've got to come in and take it, no-one is going to give it to me, so for the manager to confirm that is brilliant and only gives me more motivation going into the season.
"There's no pressure involved. I've already done the hard yards to get into the team. It's a level I'm comfortable with and a team I'm comfortable playing in."
Butland is likely to start Stoke's first game of the season against Liverpool next weekend.
Charlie Bennett
