Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is eager to use pre-season to prove he remains first-choice for manager Tony Pulis.

The Bosnia international deposed former long-term number one Thomas Sorensen last season but is prepared for greater competition from the Denmark goalkeeper in the coming campaign.

“I think I did pretty well last season and I ended the season as the number one, so hopefully that remains to be the case,” he told stokecityfc.com after the squad returned for training yesterday.

“Obviously, Thomas will want to play just as much as I do, but we will have to wait and see what the manager decides.

“I am desperate to play games, and I will be doing everything I can in pre-season training and in the matches to make sure I get that starting spot.”