Mark Hughes: 'Peter Crouch going nowhere'

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has insisted that Peter Crouch will not be sold by the club in January.

The 32-year-old striker has been linked with Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers in recent weeks.

However, Hughes has no intention of letting Crouch join another side during the upcoming transfer window as the Potters look to climb the Premier League table in 2014.

"He's not going anywhere in January," Goal.com quotes the Welshman as saying. "He gives a focus to our attacking play.

"I played that role for many years myself, with my back to goal, and it's a thankless task on occasions. Sometimes you have to take hits for the team, and that's what Peter did and has done for a long time."

Crouch was on target for Stoke on Saturday as they earned a 2-1 win against Aston Villa in the Premier League.