Stoke City coach Mark O'Connor is confident Ricardo Fuller can cut it in the Premiership.

He told The Sentinel: "I hope he is going to prove it. The stats will show he has not done that before, so he has to prove it next season after being probably the best striker over 46 games in the Championship last year.

"His ability to take people out in one-on-one situations will frighten people.

"He is just the same in training. Any time we are doing one-on-ones there is no way you want to be drawn with Ric.

"This season is such a big challenge for all the players, Ric included. They will want to prove they are capable of playing against top-level opposition."