Clarke speaks on WHUTV

Steve Clarke is expecting a thorough examination from Stoke City when West Ham United visit the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Clarke, speaking in an exclusive interview with WHUTV after signing a new contract until the summer of 2013 this week, believes the Potters have a lot more in their locker than the direct style many people associate with them. As well as respecting Tony Pullis' side, first-team coach Clarke is keen for the Hammers to demonstrate their own fluid passing style that has served them so well in recent months.

"I think it's important to impose your style of play on every game," Clarke told WHUTV. "You have to impose the way you want to play. I think Stoke City have got better since the turn of the year and have one or two better footballers in their team and are now starting to play a little bit more.

"I think they get stereotyped a little bit but you don't get to where they are unless you've got some decent players and that's what they've got. So it's a difficult game for us but one we look forward to."

With the positive news emanating from Chadwell Heath that Jack Collison is back in full training, where he could be joined by Carlton Cole next week, Clarke believes that welcoming back any extra bodies before the end of the season would be a bonus.

"It would be nice to get some players back as we've been operating with a smaller squad since January. The one or two injuries that we've had have made it a little more difficult but the boys who have come in have been great - that shouldn't underestimated and never be overlooked.

"Everybody who has been asked to do a job for the team and the group has done that and that's important when you are trying to build things. If we can get one or two back that would help, but if not we carry on with what we've got and that hopefully that will be good enough to achieve what we want to achieve."