And The Duke, with only 10 goals for the Baggies since his high-profile move from Wigan more than a year ago, knows he has yet to “catch fire” in the blue and white stripes.

“I know Albion have yet to see the best of me but I also have not lost faith in what I can do,” he says.

“There’s been setbacks along the way with injuries which you have got to accept is part of football.

“I stayed out of the game on Saturday to make sure I was fully recovered – and now I am.

“I haven’t yet been ‘on fire’ with Albion but that comes with playing regularly and I have not really had that yet here.

“Throughout my career I have shown that I will score goals – but I need to be playing regularly. There were times last season when I was left out and I was left thinking” ‘Why am I not playing?’

“If you are the top scorer, you should be the best for the job. I think it was the same for Kanu and look at what he’s doing now.

“I’m not the sort to make a big fuss of things but I did have a word with Bryan Robson about that at the end of last season and told him I couldn’t understand some of the times I was left out.

“But that’s in the past. I’m fit now and eager to get a run of games because I know that if I do, Nathan Ellington will score goals.”

* Albion chairman Jeremy Peace hopes to draw up a four-man shortlist for the Hawthorns manager’s job this weekend.

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