The 28-year-old has been little short of a revelation since leaving West Ham in January 2009 for the Potteries. After helping Stoke secure their Premier League status that season, Etherington enjoyed a superb campaign last term, scoring seven goals and setting up numerous others. His displays earned him the supporters' and players' Player of the Year awards and even saw him tipped for a place in England's World Cup squad. The call from Fabio Capello never came but, with England's star names performing so limply in South Africa, Pulis has already trumpeted Etherington's claims for this season. The player himself is keeping his feet on the ground and is instead focusing on improving his level again as Stoke look to defy the odds for the third time and better last season's 11th-place finish. Etherington said: "I'm delighted to stay here and hopefully push Stoke up the Premier League and on to bigger and better things. "(The awards) capped off a good season for me. Obviously we finished high up the league and beat our points tally from the previous season. "It was a great season and hopefully I'll be able to do even more this season with a bit of luck. I just want to improve on my form from last season, which I know I can." It has been a long and troubled journey for the man who made his Football League debut for Peterborough aged only 15 years and 262 days. A move to Tottenham alongside Posh team-mate Simon Davies followed when Etherington was 18 but his first team chances were limited and in 2003 he moved on again to West Ham. He thrived in the Championship but found himself spending more and more time on the bench when the Hammers returned to the Premier League. That eventually led to Etherington agreeing a move to Stoke 18 months ago in what now appears a bargain £2million deal. But the 28-year-old's difficulties on the pitch were nothing compared to his struggles off it as Etherington battled a gambling addiction that began during his time at Tottenham. His problems intensified at West Ham and earlier this year he admitted to losing somewhere in the region of £1.5million. The Cornwall native tried to kick the habit in 2007, spending time at Tony Adams' Sporting Chance clinic, but he could not stay away. With the help of Stoke and another week at Sporting Chance, though, Etherington has been able to give up gambling. That undoubtedly played a part in his superb form last season, leading Pulis to describe the winger as his best ever signing. Top of the agenda for Etherington and his team-mates this summer was a training camp in Austria that saw Pulis push his troops to the limit. "It's all about working hard in pre-season, which we did in Austria," Etherington added on Stoke Player. "It's probably one of the hardest weeks I've had as a footballer but I know it will stand us in good stead for the start of the season. "And, as much as it was hard work, you know you're benefiting from it." The Potters go into this campaign in the unusual position of not being tipped for relegation after two impressive seasons under Pulis' astute management. Etherington's flair has augmented the strength and work ethic for which Stoke are famed, and he cannot wait for the first day of the new term, when City travel to Wolves. He added: "You always look forward to the first game of the season, it's always a great occasion. Wolves away is going to be a tough game but it's a game I'm sure we can get a result from."
