Welsh international Collins signed from Sunderland for �2.75m in September

Stoke defender Danny Collins believes the Potters need to finish in the top half of the Premier League to continue their steady progress under Tony Pulis.

The Potters finished 12th last season, their first campaign in the top-flight of English football for 23 years.

"Last year, it was all about staying in the league and you aim to build on that," Collins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We're in the top half at the minute. Our aim is to finish in the top half and that will be a building step."

The Potters are ninth in the table after 12 matches, although they could have been as high as sixth if they had not dropped five points from winning positions in their last two games against Wolves and Hull.

If we get to Christmas in a good position, we can push for that top-half finish Danny Collins

The former Sunderland defender continued: "Personally, I don't see why we can't finish eighth or ninth this year.

"Apart from the disappointment of the Hull game (a 2-1 defeat on 8 November) we've only lost to three of the big four teams.

"We've been doing the right things and beating the teams around us. If we get to Christmas in a good position, we can push for that top-half finish."

Stoke's next fixture is against Portsmouth at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version