Bolton full-back Jlloyd Samuel insists he is back in the side on merit after losing his place at the start of the campaign.

Samuel was an ever-present in the Barclays Premier League last season when the club secured their status under manager Gary Megson after a poor start.

But he found himself on the bench in the opening games against Sunderland and Hull - which both ended in defeats - with new arrival Paul Robinson getting the nod.

Samuel was then recalled and he looks set to retain his place against Stoke after being part of the team that recorded a victory at Portsmouth last weekend.

He said: "Losing my place was one of those things. It was the manager's decision and you've got to go along with it.

"I just kept my head down - I had a good pre-season - and waited for my chance again. Hopefully I have taken it as I want to play regularly again this season.

"I have been pleased with my performances and just want to keep pushing on. I am 28 now and feel I still have a lot to offer."

Samuel wants Bolton to build on the victory at Portsmouth - their first in the league this season - but expects Stoke to be difficult opposition.

With a match against Birmingham to follow next Saturday, it is an important spell for the club.

Samuel said: "You expect to win your home games and we need to start doing that, beginning on Saturday.

"We know what to expect from Stoke, the ball comes at you from every angle. We need to defend well and create some chances if we are to get the points.

"With Birmingham to follow we have got some good games against teams that are going to be in and around us.

"We have got to believe they are games we can win. I am sure if we play like we did against Portsmouth we can get the points."

Megson believes his side are brimming with confidence and said: "I don't think belief is the right thing to talk about because it was there already to enable us to get that win.

"It was there even though we had lost three games on the spin. I think it gives us the opportunity now to go on a run, and you can't go on a run unless you take that first step.

"We've done that now so it's important that we follow it up with another good performance on Saturday."

He added: "We played Stoke in the first game of last season and beat them 3-1 and I thought they were stronger than us in the first 20 minutes.

"I think one bookie actually paid out on them getting relegated, but I said at the time they won't go down, and they weren't even close.

"It is probably the one club in the Premier League at the moment that is on a huge upward curve."