Phillips thanks Canaries boss

Kevin Phillips has insisted he will show no remorse to his first professional boss on Saturday (KO 3pm) as he hopes to fire Albion to within one win of a return to the Premiership. Canaries boss Glenn Roeder gave Phillips his first chance in professional football rescuing the striker from non-league obscurity at Baldock Town some 14 years ago. The rest, they say, is history.

"I owe my career to Glenn Roeder," the 24-goal, former England international said.

"That won't stop me from trying my hardest to score the winner.

"Norwich are fighting for their lives and are still not out of it down there so it's a big, big match for them.

"It's a good pitch and a good atmosphere at Norwich and it should be a good game.

"Glenn is the one that signed me on professional forms from non-league.

"When no-one else would give me that chance, Glenn did and I owe him everything I've earned in my career - not that I'm going to give it him all!

"But I'll certainly buy him a drink when I see him.

"He gave me an opportunity no-one else would.

"It doesn't surprise me what he's done at Norwich.

"He was manager at Newcastle for a year-and-a-half and you don't get that job without having something special about you.

"He went to Norwich under real tough circumstances and has turned it round.

"He's got them to that point where I'm sure one more win will see them safe.

"I just hope it's not on Saturday.

"But I hope Glenn keeps them in the league and they go onto bigger and better things."

Although only two wins away from securing top-flight football, Phillips is taking nothing for granted in the remaining fixtures expecting a tough end to a rollercoaster season.

"We've still got three extremely difficult games to go," Phillips continued.

"But we're sitting in a very healthy position.

"It's a tough match on Saturday but not any tougher than going to Wolves.

"We know we can go to those sort of places and win.

"The main thing is that we don't go there and let ourselves down.

"I can't see that happening.

"We're so close now and, if we win on Saturday, the week after we could have the chance to get promoted in front of our own supporters against Southampton.

"Saturday is a massive game."