Ishmael Miller expects to be fully fit for the start of the new season after returning to training.
West Brom striker targets first game of season
Ishmael Miller expects to be fully fit for the start of the new season after returning to gentle training.
The West Brom striker suffered a serious knee injury during the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth last December and missed the rest of the campaign.
He has now recovered but admits there is still a lot of work to do if he is to be available for selection when the Baggies face Newcastle in their opening Championship match.
"I should be fully fit for the start of the season," the 22-year-old told the
Express & Star.
"You never know if you're going to have a setback, but hopefully that won't happen and I'll be fine.
"I am training but I'm taking it easy at the same time and I'm making sure than when August 8 comes I am back and ready to play a 90-minute game.
"I trained on Friday possession-wise and passing-wise and we had a game at the end which I dropped out of. I can do everything else and I am going on tour next week.
"My 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."
Miller concedes it was difficult to be sidelined for seven months as West Brom lost their battle for Premier League survival.
He said: "It was very tough. I wanted to go to a lot of the games but I couldn't get myself there because I would have been too disappointed."
Labadie deal
West Brom midfielder Joss Labadie, meanwhile, has signed a new one-year contract with the club.
Albion also have the option to extend the deal for a further 12 months if the teenager progresses well.
Labadie agreed his first professional contract last summer but a metatarsal injury cut short a loan spell at Shrewsbury in January.
