Boss thinking long term

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis admits staying in the Premier League for the next three years will transform the Potters as a club.

The Britannia Stadium outfit are gearing up for another season of top-flight football after finishing the highest of the promoted clubs last time around.

And Pulis is in no mood to take a backwards step as he targets a sustained period of success for the club.

"It is unusual for Stoke over the years to be playing against Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and all the other top clubs," Pulis told The Sentinel.

"It shows where the club is going, how far we have moved and where we eventually want to go.The next two or three years are probably the most important this club has ever had.

"Next year will be really difficult, but if we can keep ourselves in the Premier League for the next two or three years, then this club will be unrecognisable to what it was, and even to what it is now."