Stoke's Bojan Krkic wants first start of the season

Stoke City midfielder Bojan Krkic has said he is ready to make his first Premier League start of the season on Saturday when Mark Hughes’ side take on Leicester City at the Britannia Stadium.

This is news that Hughes will welcome in light of his team's disappointing start to the campaign, picking up just two points in their opening five matches.

Hughes spent big over the summer, signing midfielders Xherdan Shiqiri, Ibrahim Afellay and Marco van Ginkel, but so far his new creative talents have struggled to make a mark in the side, notching up just a single assist between them.

Stoke are languishing in the relegation zone, a start that club chairman Peter Coates has described as "iffy".

Former Barcelona player Bojan came off the bench in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday, the first time he has featured for the Potters since rupturing a knee ligament in January and says he is fully fit and raring to go.

His return could be just what Hughes' side need ahead of a run of fixtures where, still searching for that crucial first win of the season, they take on the likes of Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Swansea, Watford and fellow strugglers Newcastle United.

I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that as I come back, I come back better than ever.

The 25-year-old told The Sentinel: "I don't know when it will be that I can make my first start, but I am ready. I feel really good and I'm training really hard.

"I'm just waiting for the gaffer to decide to start me because I feel ready and I can't wait.

"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that as I come back, I come back better than ever."