Injury-hit striker Ishmael Miller has set his sights on Albion’s opening fixture against Newcastle United for him to return to full fitness.
The former Manchester City powerhouse is recovering from a serious knee injury sustained against Portsmouth in December and assumed pre-season training with the rest of the squad last week – albeit in a limited form.
Now, after six months on the treatment table, the 22-year-old is easing his way back to full fitness and has targeted the curtain-raiser against the Geordies for him to be ready to play a full 90-minutes in an Albion shirt again.
“Basically I am training but I'm taking it easy at the same time and I'm making sure when August 8 comes I am back and ready to play a 90-minute game,” Miller said.
“We had a game at the end, which I dropped out of.
"I can do everything else and I am going on tour to Slovenia.
"I should be fully fit for the start of the season.
"You never know if you're going to have a setback, but hopefully that won't happen and I'll be fine.
"The knee feels better than I expected it to feel.
"When I had the injury and started my rehab I didn't think I would feel as good as I do at this time.
"My knee feels very strong.”
Miller was brought to the club by former boss Tony Mowbray during Albion’s last campaign in the Championship but is now eager to impress new head-coach Roberto Di Matteo and play his way into his thoughts.
“We have a new manager with new ideas and new ways of thinking," the burly striker continued.
"It's a new regime and it should be an exciting time.
"He's a good manager.
"He is chilled out and very relaxed and I think that might be the Italian way.
"He has obviously been a great player and hopefully he can bring a bit of the flair from his playing days into his management and into the team.
"Hopefully that will happen and we will have a great year.
"When you're under any manager you try to perform as well as you possibly can but sometimes it just doesn't happen for some reason.
"You see some players go to clubs and it just doesn't happen for them at that moment in time.
"With a manager like we've got now, who has worked with great players like Zola, you are looking to show him that you're a good player too.
"Hopefully he can bring in some good players too because I think we need a few."