Peter Crouch says he may have to leave Stoke City after losing place

Striker Peter Crouch helped book Stoke’s place in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Doncaster on Saturday — then said he could quit because of a lack of first team football.

Crouch, 34, scored Stoke’s first-half opener then played a part in Jonathan Walters’ second after Nathan Tyson had levelled in a 2-1 win.

The former England forward has started just five games for the Potters this season — all of them in the Cup — and admitted his frustration at falling out of the first-team picture after a hamstring injury.

He told the club’s official website: “Ideally I’d like to stay at Stoke because I think we’re a top 10 side and I’d like to be a part of that.

“But I’ve got to be realistic — I’ve featured hardly at all in the Premier League, and that’s what I want to be doing. If needs be I’ll have to move on, but I’d rather not.

“It’s been frustrating at times when you don’t feel part of the group but all you can do is work hard and get back in there, and hopefully I’ve done myself a bit of justice.”

Manager Mark Hughes said he wants to keep Crouch and praised his side’s cup opponents, adding: “I thought Doncaster played very well and caused us problems and it has taken two very good quality goals to take the tie away from them.”