Albion new boy Simon Cox is braced for a rough ride on his return to Swindon and insists he cannot wait.

The £1.5million summer signing from the County Ground is relishing a reunion with his former team-mates, when his new side travel to the League One outfit for a friendly tonight.

He believes Robins boss Danny Wilson will single him out for some special treatment, when he comes head-to-head with the club for whom he struck 31 goals last season.

Cox said: “I would love to play in the game, just to go back and see old faces.

“I have no doubt the manager will tell them to kick me in the air, which won’t bother me, but he is a nice bloke and I was sorry to leave. You have to move up in the world and take the opportunities you get.

“I can’t emphasise enough what a nice club Swindon is. I enjoyed myself there, especially last year, scoring so many goals.

“But I had the opportunity to come here and the manager has now got a bit of money, which hopefully he will spend well to bring the club up through the leagues.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Swindon. It was a lovely club with great people and the chairman and manager were superb with me.

“Now I’ve got an opportunity to play in a higher league with a big club and I’ll take that if I can.”

Cox is part of a strong Baggies squad heading to the County Ground for their penultimate senior friendly, before the Championship season begins at home to Newcastle on August 8.

All of Roberto Di Matteo’s senior fit professionals are expected to figure this evening, meaning a team of young pros and youth team players will go to Port Vale tomorrow.

The Albion head coach had no fresh injury concerns for tonight with Ishmael Miller, Neil Clement and James Morrison out and Shelton Martis still a slight doubt.

The senior players will complete their preparations at home to Chievo on Saturday, with a second string going to Cheltenham on Friday.