Mark Bowen is delighted to have signed for Stoke City as Mark Hughes' No2.

Stoke's first game of the forthcoming campaign comes in the shape of a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, and Bowen was upbeat about what lies ahead.

"First and foremost you want to put your own stamp on things but at the same time, Stoke wants to be a progressive club," he told Sky Sports News.

"We want to push forward and see where we can take the club over the next few years and obviously we've got a difficult act to follow.

"Tony Pulis did a magnificent job there and we're well aware we're coming into a situation which is very stable and looks like a very welcoming place to go and ply your trade."