Stoke City coach Gerry Francis says they're yet to fully establish themselves as a Premier League force.

Francis, who is in his fifth season as part of the backroom staff, admits the club deserves all the plaudits for their progress since promotion in 2008.

But he also told The Sentinel: "It's not true to say we are established because we haven't finished in the top half of the table yet.

"It's the hardest league in the world to stay in. There's been a lot of teams over the years that have come up and gone down again. And it's going to be even tougher this year.

"Every year we have to try and improve."