Stoke winger Michael Kightly is targeting this season to become a first team regular with Stoke City. "I've heard a lot of talk about the other wingers at the club," Kightly told the Stoke Sentinel. "That's fine, but I want to stake a claim myself and impress the manager too.

"I want to work myself into the first XI and have a good season, I'm at that age now when I don't want to sit on the bench. I want to progress as a player, and I think I can.

"I hear things about the other lads, so my job is to show what I can do as well."

Kightly endured a somewhat troubled 2012/13 campaign after arriving from Wolves and he added: "Yes, my confidence took a massive whack last season, and I'm trying to get that back because I know I can play at this level.

"I think it's an issue I had myself with confidence and it's one I need to work on. I believe that, if I am confident, I can do things for the team.

"It's difficult to say where I am confidence-wise at the moment, but scoring a goal, making a goal and having a good game certainly helps."