Kiely sure Albion will evade drop

Albion goalkeeper Dean Kiely is confident the Baggies can avoid relegation from the Premier League next season.

Kiely, one of last season’s promotion heroes,  feels that West Brom have an excellent blend of qualities heading into the 2008/09 campaign and in a TV interview said the team could do well next season. 

“There are no big superstars. It is not a dressing room of egos. 

“It is a team with a commitment to work hard with a very good manager place,” said the keeper.

Manager Tony Mowbray’s men will open their Barclays Premier League season with a clash against London giants Arsenal at Emirates Stadium – but Kiely is not afraid of the Gunners.

Kiely , who signed from Portsmouth in 2007, admits his team-mates face a stern test, but believes the game will set them in good stead for the rest of the campaign.

“I think if we were playing a newly-promoted side it might not feel like a Premier League game,” the 37-year-old said.

“I think facing Arsenal at Emirates Stadium means there is no bedding-in period for us – and we didn’t really want that anyway.” 

The Baggies have so far failed to add to their squad for the new season,  although they have lost their Hungarian star Zoltan Gera to Fulham.

But it is now hoped that they will now be able to keep their 34-year-old hot-shot Kevin Phillips  whose agent yesterday said the player had finally accepted that he will only be getting a one-year contract at his age.

 Mowbray has been linked with a number of targets so far during this transfer window, but the only confirmed bid has been the one made for Derry City’s Paddy McCourt, who at the last moment opted to take his chance with Celtic instead.