(REUTERS) - Stoke City striker Peter Crouch believes the club are in a position to challenge for top honours in the Premier League after back-to-back ninth-place finishes have seen them attract higher-quality players in the transfer window.

The Potters are playing in the Barclays Asia Trophy in Singapore and have welcomed six new players, including England and Ireland internationals Glen Johnson and Shay Given.

Barcelona starlet Moha El Ouriachi also joined at the start of the week and the 34-year-old Crouch has become increasingly impressed with the squad manager Mark Hughes is assembling at the Britannia Stadium.

"We are now attracting top quality signings and top quality players," Crouch, who first played in the Premier League 13 years ago, told reporters in Singapore on Friday.

"I have just finished my fourth season at Stoke City and the difference in the calibre of players, the confidence and the size of the squad has improved no end."

Crouch has been keen to impart his knowledge of the club to the new recruits, realising that as Stoke have established themselves as a top-10 side in England, more internationals will be keen to join.

"I spoke to Glen and obviously I know him well from England and I only had glowing things to say about the club. I have enjoyed my time here since I joined and I know that being able to bring in Glen from such a big club like Liverpool shows how far we have moved on now that he has chosen Stoke City."