Steve Clarke warns off Shane Long poachers

Clarke believes the Ireland international will cope with the busiest eight days of the Baggies' season despite his ongoing hamstring issues.

And the Hawthorns head coach insists the club are not worried about possible January interest in the 25-year-old, whose six goals and four assists so far this season have marked him out as one of the Premier League's most in-form players.

"They (clubs) can come if they want," said Clarke. "The answer is 'no'.

"I am not going to hype up things up for other clubs and tell them who they should be bidding for.

"He is our player and he's not going anywhere."

Long was due to figure in today's lunch-time game at Sunderland before beginning preparations for Wednesday's long trip to Swansea.

The Baggies will complete a difficult week with a home game against Stoke on Saturday and Clarke believes Long will deal with the demands of the fixture list despite continuing to nurse a fragile hamstring.

"If Shane has to play 90 minutes he can play 90 minutes – no problem," said Clarke, who has regularly substituted the former Reading man to protect his injury.

"He can play three in a week if he has to but I would have to manage his training around about the fact that he has three games in a week. We can manage it.

"It is just a condition that he has. He has tight hamstrings and we will look after him and make sure he it doesn't become a tear, which would keep him out for eight weeks."

Clarke, meanwhile, has reiterated the fact he expects a quiet transfer window at The Hawthorns despite the possible loss of Peter Odemwingie and the almost certain departure of Youssouf Mulumbu to the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

"I think we've got the players to cover the loss of those two players," he said. "I've said all along I'm happy with the squad I've got. If I can keep that squad together, I'll be happy."