Hammers sign Collins

West Ham have signed Stoke City's Danny Collins on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 31-year-old Welsh international centre half, who will wear the number 25 shirt has been drafted in as cover until the end of the current campaign due to the recent injury sustained by Winston Reid and the departure of former loanee George John.

"This was a chance for me to come out on loan and get some games in," Collins told whufc.com. "Hopefully I can come down here, get myself into the team and be part of it.

" I got the call on Thursday night so I've come down to try to play some games. I've won the Championship twice, the first in 2005 and then in 2007, so it would be nice to complete a hat-trick.

"I know Abby [Faye] from Stoke and I've known George [McCartney] for a few years, John Carew came to Stoke last year for a while and I know Jack Collison from Wales.

"Knowing some of the boys always helps you to bed in when you come to a new club."

Collins, who moved to Stoke from Sunderland for £2.75million in September 2009 spent the first half of the current season on loan with Ipswich Town, for whom he made 16 appearances.

He has featured for his parent club just twice this term, with both appearances coming last month in the Europa Cup.

Danny Collins: career stats

2001-2004: Chester (Youth) Pld 71 (5), Gls 4
2004-2009: Sunderland (£140,000) Pld 146 (17), Gls 0
2009-2012: Stoke City (£2.75m) Pld 52 (7), Gls 0

Previous Loan Spells

2002-2003: Vauxhall Motors
2011: Ipswich Town Pld 16, Gls 3