Stoke City new boy Glen Johnson claims that the ambitions shown by manager Mark Hughes were key to him joining the Potters.

Johnson spent six years at Liverpool, during which time he won 54 England caps, but has since fallen out of favour at both club and country level.

The former Portsmouth FA Cup winner rejected several lucrative offers to sign for Stoke after Hughes convinced him that he was making a forward step in his career.

Johnson said: "I met Mark Hughes a week a go and was impressed with what he had to say. Stoke City is a club moving in the right direction and I want to be a part of it."

"They once had a reputation for long ball and long throw-ins, but you can see what has happened since Mark has come in. They've progressed into a real footballing team."

The 30-year-old is set for a reunion with his old side when the two clubs meet in their opening day fixture next season on August 9^.

Johnson said: "It´s funny how the fixture calendar works out like that sometimes... I owe Liverpool a lot. I had some good times there, played a lot of games throughout the years and I have a lot of friends there, so Liverpool will always stay close to my heart."

"But hopefully Stoke City will get the three points on the opening day of the Premier League Season."