Banksy has his say on Asmir

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STOKE and England goalkeeping legend Gordon Banks reckons Asmir Begovic has the potential to become the best in the country.

Club president Banks was at the Britannia Stadium on Monday to see Stoke's current number one keep West Bromwich Albion at bay as City escaped with a 1-1 draw.

And the England 1966 World Cup-winner says the 23-year-old Bosnia star, pictured below, has the ability to be the Premier League's finest keeper.

He said: "He looks a very confident goalkeeper. His angles are very good and he's not frightened of coming out to get crosses.


"If he carries on like this then in two or three years he really will be something very special.

"There are some excellent goalkeepers around the country, but if he keeps up this standard then he will definitely be rated with them."

Stoke signed Begovic from Portsmouth for £3.25m in January 2009, and had to fight off a £4m approach for the youngster from Chelsea last August.

Stoke were certainly grateful to Begovic for the draw with West Brom, which keeps them six points ahead of the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's trip to second-bottom West Ham United.

Banks, who was speaking after being inducted into the City of Stoke on Trent Sporting Hall of Fame yesterday, added: "I had heard how well we played against Arsenal the week before and I was really looking forward to the game.

"Unfortunately, it turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. If it wasn't for the goalkeeper, we might have lost it.

"I thought he had a terrific game, especially at 0-0 when he made two saves low down in the corner and kept hold of the ball.

"Stoke have two really good goalkeepers now."

Begovic claimed Stoke's number one shirt when Thomas Sorensen was injured earlier in the season, and Banks has some sympathy for the Denmark international.

However, while Banks reckons Begovic has potential, he doesn't believe City boss Tony Pulis would be settling for second best if he continued to pick 34-year-old Sorensen for Stoke's FA Cup games.

Banks added: "Sorensen is a good goalkeeper as well, so his playing doesn't weaken the team.

"But it is difficult to keep an international goalkeeper happy when someone is pushing him out of the position and playing well.

"I am not sure he would want to stay if things stay as they are. He will stay for a while to see how he goes and then probably decide there's not much future here and try to get another club.

"We will see, but I am hoping things stay as they are."