Midfielder James Morrison believes Albion will make the bookies eat their words by making a splash in the Premier League.

The former Middlesbrough man reckons pundits tipping the Baggies for an instant return to the Championship will serve as an inspiration to Tony Mowbray’s side.

Albion returned to Premier League action at Arsenal today, with bookmakers bet365 offering just 7-2 on all three promoted clubs being relegated.

Morrison insists such predictions will only spur the Baggies on.

He said: “We might surprise a few people this year. Nobody is expecting us to do well and the bookies have got us to go down. I think that is an incentive for the lads to do well.

“We will go to Arsenal in the first game and get them out of the way.”

Morrison believes the Baggies’ near miss in last season’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley could also serve as an inspiration. They were beaten 1-0 but earned widespread praise from observers.

He said: “At Wembley we played a Premier League team in Portsmouth. We played our own game and did really well.

“We don’t want to be that nearly team again, we want to go and do it this year. If we have the same mentality we had against Portsmouth then we will do alright.”

Bookmakers still believe Albion are among the favourites for relegation. Bet365 are offering 50-1 on the Baggies, Stoke and Hull all avoiding the drop.

Spokesman Steve Freeth said: “It’s a big ask for the three promoted teams to stay up this season. “However, sides like Blackburn, West Ham, Newcastle and Man City have all been nibbled at for relegation.

“Who’s to say they won’t be joining the mini league of clubs scrapping it out at the bottom.”