Crouch joined Stoke from Tottenham on transfer deadline day and has already scored two goals for the Potters. His overall performances have also been pleasing so far and Crouch believes it is his new manager's great faith in him that has allowed him to be a success. "He certainly gives me that belief," Crouch told The Independent. "The best football I have ever played in my career has always been with a manager who rates me extremely highly." The striker admits he did not feel valued at White Hart Lane, adding: "In the end it worked out best for everyone. "They got a good fee for me and they could bring (Scott) Parker in. I could go to a club where I felt extremely wanted and felt like a real big part of it moving forward. I didn't feel that at Tottenham." Stoke have lost just twice in 15 competitive games this season and Crouch puts that down to the work Pulis does behind the scenes. "He has really, really impressed me with his attention to detail and the work he does on every player and team's stats," Crouch said. "He is not concerned what anyone else says about the way we play. All he is concerned about is getting results, a stable Premier League team doing well in the cup competitions. He has achieved that. "We are an established team now. We have done well in Europe so far, the team reached the FA Cup final last year and for me it is going to get better and better. We are not concerned what people say outside. As a manager I can't talk about him highly enough." Crouch is also well aware that he must continue to pull his weight if he is to keep his place in the Stoke side with the likes of Kenwyne Jones and Cameron Jerome waiting to step in. He added: "From the top it is about hard work before anything else. Hard work, determination and you have to fit into the team otherwise we will lose the identity of Stoke. He (Pulis) said that to me when I arrived. "I know he wouldn't accept (players with a high opinion of themselves) and if he saw anyone getting out of line they wouldn't be playing. "That is not how I am. The manager has done his homework on me. I am happy to work as hard, if not harder, than those who are here already. The manager certainly won't take anything less." Stoke are back in Europa League action on Thursday evening, hoping to strengthen their hold on top spot in Group E with victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Britannia Stadium.
