Stoke suffered a disappointing exit from the Carling Cup on Tuesday night but one of the players to help them into quarter-finals was Pugh, who scored the crucial second goal in the previous round against Rotherham.

The 26-year-old started his professional career with Manchester United after coming through the ranks at Old Trafford, but he never started a Premier League during his time at the club and made just seven appearances in all between 2002-04.

Pugh enjoyed greater success at his next club, Leeds, though, after moving there in the summer of 2004 as part of the deal that took Alan Smith to United.

He was handed a left-wing berth by Kevin Blackwell and actually led Leeds' scoring charts with six until David Healy arrived from Preston in October '04.

Healy's arrival saw Blackwell swap from a 4-4-2 formation to a 4-3-3 and that meant Pugh dropping back to left-back. He remained a key member of the side for the remainder of that season, making 41 appearances in all, but the following one saw him play more of a peripheral role.

The form of Matthew Kilgallon in defence restricted him to just 15 appearances in the 2005-06 campaign, with only five in his last six months in Yorkshire, and Pugh was again on the move that summer after the Whites had just missed out on promotion to the Premier League.

Pugh was sold to Preston for £250,000 and his first season at Deepdale saw a return to midfield - and a return to form. He made 49 appearances, usually on the left or in the centre, and played a crucial role in North End's push for a play-off spot.

The Lilywhites - along with Stoke - missed out on a top-six place on the final day of the 2006-07 season but Pugh continued to be regular under Paul Simpson at the start of the next campaign.

He became heavily linked with a switch to the Potters, though, and, after Simpson had initially refused to sell the midfielder, Pugh moved to the Britannia Stadium on loan at the beginning of November '07.

He quickly became a regular in Tony Pulis' side and soon established himself at the club's first-choice left-back, despite being initially signed to play on the left wing.

He completed a permanent £500,000 move to Stoke in the January transfer window and continued to impress in a number of positions - most notably in a few central midfield outings - as Pulis led the club to the Premier League.

A summer spending spree has seen Pugh fall out of favour since City won promotion, but he shone in a couple of Carling Cup appearances before Tuesday night's exit.

Here are his answers to TEAMtalk's Top 10:

What club did you support growing up? Manchester City because that's where I'm from orginally. In fact I still live up there now in south Manchester.

What's been the highlight of your career so far? That would have to be winning promotion last year.

Which team do you want to beat more than any other this season? Liverpool. I wouldn't say I hate them or anything but they're the ones I'd love to beat.

If you could have dinner with any one person, dead or alive, who would it be? Lance Armstrong. I've read a couple of his books and he's an impressive kind of guy.

If you weren't a footballer then what would you be? Maybe a physio. Something to do with football I think.

What's the best prank you've ever played or had played on you? All the usual ones really. Someone cut my socks up last season so when I put my feet in they went straight through the end.

Who's your worst dressed team-mate? There's a few. Probably Andy Griffin, though, overall. Simmo doesn't care, it's too easy picking Simmo.

And who's the hardest? There's a fair few you wouldn't mess with, but I definitely wouldn't mess with Vince (Pericard).

Who's the best player you've ever played with? Probably Paul Scholes from my days at United.

And who's the least skillful player you've ever played with?! I'd love to stitch someone up but I'm afraid I can't. I wouldn't be surprised if they've all said me!