Stoke winger Matthew Etherington says that he is confident he is winning his battle with a gambling problem after revealing he was taking steps to manage his addiction.

GettyImages / PaulEllis.jpgMatthew Etherington has been in fine form.

Etherington, who joined Stoke 13 months ago, has been one of his club's most impressive performers this season and now claims that he has ''got over'' his problems.

''I've never really spoken about it, but I go twice a week to Gambling Anonymous in Birmingham. I'll do that for the rest of my life,'' he told the Daily Mail. ''You are just meeting like-minded people and you talk about things that help keep you off gambling. It has been a big help.

''I had to do something about it - and I've done that. Now I'd like to get on with my life. I would be the first to admit I had problems with gambling and I never hide that fact.

''My problems had been well documented and I would like to think they are long behind me now. I've got over that and come out the other side.''