Stoke City manager Mark Hughes have conceded he be forced to let Peter Crouch leave the club when the transfer window re-opens in January.
Crouch, 34, has dropped down the pecking order at the Britannia Stadium over the last 12 months following the dramatic change in playing style that Hughes is looking to implement.
The former England international has spent the last four years at Stoke, but Hughes admits he could be resigned to lose the tall frontman to please his desire for first-team football.
“He won’t go out of choice on my part. I would be loathed to let him go because he’s a big part of what we do here and for what he brings to the dressing room,” Hughes to the Daily Star.
“He is frustrated at lack of game time and I understand that. Peter is unique in terms of what he offers and I can understand why other teams would want him.’
Since the start of the 2009/10 Premier League campaign, only Joe Hart (2,169) has made more inaccurate passes than Crouch (2,090).
For more stats on Peter Crouch, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
