Kev: I owe career to Norwich boss

Kevin Phillips heads to Norwich on Saturday admitting he owes his career to Canaries manager Glenn Roeder.

Phillips is planning to buy Roeder a pint after the Carrow Road clash, but he is hoping the former Watford chief will be using it to drown his sorrows after Albion take another step towards promotion.

“I owe my career to Glenn Roeder,” said Albion’s 24-goal leading goalscorer, who was plucked from non-League obscurity with Baldock Town by Roeder and given his big break at Watford. Glenn is the one that signed me on professional forms from non-league.

“When no-one else would give me that chance, Glenn took a chance on me and I owe him everything I’ve earned in my career – not that I’m going to give it him all.

“I’ll certainly buy him a drink when I see him because he gave me that opportunity when no-one else would.

“That won’t stop me from trying my hardest and trying to score the winner.

“Their 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 down there and it should be a good game.”

Phillips watched with horror as Roeder battled abuse from fans and serious health problems at West Ham before being hired and fired in less than two years by Newcastle.

But the former England striker is delighted to see his former mentor back at the helm of a team in Norfolk and he is backing Roeder to lead the Canaries out of relegation trouble at the foot of the Championship.

“He doesn’t surprise me with what he’s done at Norwich,” said Phillips.

“You don’t get the job at Newcastle for a year-and-a-half without having something special about you.

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

“He’s got them to that point where I’m sure one more win will maybe see them safe.

“I just hope it’s not on Saturday.But I hope Glenn keeps them in the league and goes onto bigger and better things.”

Phillips says Albion can now almost smell promotion after they reclaimed top spot in the table with victory at Molineux in Tuesday’s Black Country derby.

And he has saluted his team mates for their reaction to defeat in the FA Cup semi-final against Portsmouth at Wembley.

“I said at Wembley I didn’t think there would be a hangover and I’ve been proved right,” said Phillips.