Dickson Etuhu is hoping he has done enough to start Fulham's clash with Stoke after being brought in from the cold by manager Martin Jol.

Etuhu was frozen out of Jol's first-team squad last month, with the Cottagers boss claiming the midfielder had made a transfer request in frustration at a lack of first-team football.

As soon as the January window shut, Jol recalled the 29-year-old, who started his first game of 2012 in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.

Etuhu told Fulham's official website: "I can build from that. Obviously, in this week's training I've got to try and push on and get my fitness up but I'm looking forward to the game at home against Stoke.

"That's probably the more important one for us and hopefully we can get the three points. It's always tough when you play Stoke but we believe we can win at home.

"We're looking to obviously go and win our home games and I'm sure that, if we play the way we can, we'll do that."