Albion captain Jonathan Greening today warned Newcastle and Middlesbrough to expect a tough fight after they joined the Baggies in next season’s Championship.

The north-east duo had their relegations confirmed yesterday a week after Albion were sent down by defeat at home to Liverpool.

But Greening says the presence of two Premier League regulars will not affect the Baggies’ ambitions of an immediate return to the top flight.

He said: “The expectation doesn’t change. We still want to come straight back up. It will be a tough Championship, but we knew that already.

“With those two coming down it will be an interesting season, especially with Newcastle because they’re such a big club, with internationals who will be on huge wages and won’t be taking pay cuts.

“It will be a difficult time, probably more for them than us and Middlesbrough in some ways.

“I think Newcastle and Boro will be favourites. They have some big players on big money, so they start as favourites.

“We have to try to keep as many of our players as we can. If we do that then we can push on and do well next season.

And Greening reckons the potential problems with soaring wage bills on Tyneside and Teesside is justification for the Baggies’ policy of keeping spending in check.

All of Albion’s players are in line for pay cuts following relegation under the terms of their contracts.

Greening said: “I’ve been here for five years and I know the chairman runs a tight ship. He’d rather run a club that’s financially sound and generally run at a profit.”