• Premier League

Begovic wants Stoke to kick on

ESPN staff
June 26, 2012
Asmir Begovic hopes Stoke can follow in Newcastle's footsteps © PA Photos
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Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is hopeful the club can reach the next level after becoming an established side in the Premier League.

Stoke have finished between 11th and 14th every season since securing promotion to the top-flight four years ago and Begovic feels they are now ready to achieve even greater things.

"We're desperate for the club to push on and I think there is a lot of room to grow in many respects," he told BBC Radio Stoke. "The main thing for the club, and what's happening really, is that they've tried to put plans in place for the club to be successful long term, and that's very important."

Begovic hopes that Stoke, who played in the Europa League for the first time last season, can follow in Newcastle's footsteps after Alan Pardew's men challenged for a Champions League spot.

"Newcastle have been a kind of a sleeping giant really, if you think about where the club was ten odd years ago and the levels they were competing at, so it's no surprise they can reach those levels," he said. "For us, being in Europe has taken us into unexplored territory, so we're starting to scratch the surface and see where we can go from there."

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