Nicolas Anelka is called West Brom's 'golden oldie'

Anelka netted two first-half goals to help Clarke's men end their pre-season tour with a 3-0 win against Puskas FC Academy in the Hungarian city of Sopron last night.

And Clarke insisted he never doubted the 34-year-old's fitness – after swotting up on the veteran Frenchman's training statistics from his spell at Juventus last season.

Clarke said: "I never had a doubt about Nicolas because I'd worked with him at Chelsea. I knew the type of person he is and the type of player he is.

"Since he clearly looks after himself, I had no doubts. I have one or two good contacts around the football world and I checked him out when he was at Juventus.

"The fitness statistics and information said that he was one of the best trainers and one of the top for stats at Juventus.

"If you can do that at Juventus, then you are fit enough for us."

Anelka tapped home Albion's opening goal last night before netting a brilliant second before half-time – his first two goals for the club.

His all-round performance in the centre of a three-pronged strike-force had the travelling Baggies fans purring.

And Clarke was full of praise for the former Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Chelsea forward, who joined his new club on a free transfer from the Italian giants.

Graham Dorrans completed the victory with a penalty nine minutes from time after Kemar Roofe was felled in the box.

Clarke said: "I don't have to talk Nicolas Anelka up as being a top player. Where he's been in the football world and what he's done in the football world tells you that he's a top quality player.

"We are just happy to have him in our group this season. It's good for all of our forwards to get goals. Markus Rosenberg got one the other night against Hannover, and now Nicolas.

"It's good. Nicolas has scored goals wherever he's been but it's always nice to get off the mark and Nicolas is no exception to that. No matter where it is, it's always nice to score goals."