New practical joke recruit for Albion

Albion match-winner Roman Bednar wants to recruit new-boy Michal Danek to his practical jokes campaign – after he picked a ‘fight’ with captain Jonathan Greening.

Bednar has been assigned to help his fellow Czech settle in to life at The Hawthorns.

And the likable Bednar, whose 12th Baggies goal was the winner against Burnley, believes the 6ft 4in goalkeeper would be a perfect ‘minder’ after Greening pledged revenge.

“I have started a ‘war’ with Jonathan Greening again,” said Bednar, who has also aimed dressing room pranks at midfielder James Morrison.

“I put deep heat in his boxers. He was in the shower for about half an hour and then he put his boxers on and was hurting.

“So he spent another half-an-hour in the shower.

“He said ‘you will lose’, but we will see. It is good fun.”

Asked if new signing Danek might join in with the jokes, Bednar said: “I hope so. He is big so nobody will want to fight with me if he is on my side.”

And Bednar has pledged to do all he can to help Danek settle after recalling the assistance he received from two countrymen when he signed for Hearts.

“Michal is settling in very well,” said Bednar. “He doesn’t speak English but he has to learn now so I will help him a bit.

“I think it might be better if I wasn’t here because we speak a lot in Czech, but he will learn and he will get better and better.

“I was the lucky one in Scotland because Rudi Scacel and Michael Pospisil helped me to speak English and now I am doing that job. It’s no problem.”

Bednar’s headed second-half goal against the Clarets was his 12th in 13 starts in Albion colours and took him within five of leading scorer Kevin Phillips.

He said: “It was another important goal for the team – the winning goal.

“I was so pleased because some of my touches weren’t the best.

“But somebody told me all of the best strikers scored goals when they don’t play well and sometimes I don’t score goals when I play badly.

“I wouldn’t say I played badly, it was a normal, average game but I’m happy that I scored for us.”

And he praised the quality of the crucial cross by Paul Robinson.

“Chris Brunt didn’t play and usually he gives great crosses but this time it was Robbo with an unbelievable ball,” said Bednar.

“It was the first time I didn’t get in front of the defender. I stayed behind him and jumped with him.

“We were very disappointed after the Preston game because we had a few chances and conceded from a few set-pieces.

“It was very disappointing because we should have won there but every game is difficult because people are scrapping for survival.”