Stoke City winger Matthew Etherington believes that the Potters deserve to finish in the top half of the Premier League table this season.

The club narrowly missed out on a spot in tenth last season, and currently occupy 14th in the table, a position upon which the 30-year-old believes that they can improve.

"We've got to finish the season strongly. We deserve to finish in the top ten. I don't think anyone can argue with that. We missed out last season, but if we can make sure this time around, then I think you can say it's been a successful campaign," Etherington told the club's official website.

Etherington joined Stoke from West Ham United in 2009.