Roman to conquer Baggies rivals

Last updated : 07 September 2007 By Danny Deeming
West Brom new boy Roman Bednar knows there are "some very good strikers" at The Hawthorns - but is relishing the fight for a first-team shirt.The Czech forward joined Albion on a season-long loan within minutes of the summer transfer window closing - and is hoping to convince boss Tony Mowbray he is worthy of a permanent move to the Black Country. Bednar faces a stiff battle for a starting role in attack, as Mowbray also has Kevin Phillips, Craig Beattie, Ishmael Miller, Sherjill MacDonald and Bartosz Slusarski at his disposal. But the 24-year-old, who insists he does not want to return to Tynecastle, is confident he can be a success for the promotion-chasing Baggies.

He said: "I am very glad to be here at West Brom. It has been a very difficult time for me but I am very happy now. The club is good, the players and the coaching staff are great and they are helping me to settle. I only found out I was coming here and that the deal was done a few minutes before the transfer window closed on August 31. I had been at Hearts for two years but it had always been my dream to play here in the English league. The manager is going to give me time. I think in the past even when I wasn't 100 per cent fit they pushed me to play but here the manager wants me to be right before I play again. There are some very good strikers at this club but I relish my chance for some games. The manager can play different strikers for different games so now I want to be fit and after that I will see about challenging to play for the first XI but for now I am concentrating on my fitness. If I win my battle with fitness then this move will be everything I wanted. I hope this move will lead to something permanent. I would love to stay here."