Albion winger Chris Brunt makes his first return to Middlesbrough insisting both he and table-topping Albion are still far from their best.

The Baggies wide man believes there is plenty more to come from him and his team-mates, as they gear up for the second-versus-first clash at the Riverside.

Tomorrow’s match will be a trip down memory lane for Brunt, who learned his trade in the Boro youth team before leaving for Sheffield Wednesday.

Now the Northern Ireland international returns to Teesside insisting he and the rest of the side are still striving for top form.

Brunt said: “It’s been a bit stop-start for me. My injury slowed things down a little bit, but hopefully over the next few weeks I can get a bit more sharpness.

“It was pleasing to get a goal at Peterborough. In the first month it’s nice to get off to a goalscoring start but hopefully there is a lot more to come from me personally, and hopefully from everybody else.

“We have ground out a couple of wins in the last few weeks, which is a pleasing sign, because maybe last season we were playing well and not getting results.

“A few times this year we haven’t played overly well but still got three points, which is a good sign for everybody.

“If you look back at the opening day, maybe we deserved three points against Newcastle with the way their goalkeeper performed. But, ultimately, we would definitely have taken the start we have had so far.

“The result against Sheffield United was good. It’s a tough place to go and to be within a couple of minutes of winning the game speaks volumes for everybody.”

Injury ruled Brunt out of the trip to the Riverside Stadium last September, when a Jonas Olsson goal and some heroics from Scott Carson brought them their only away win of the Premier League season.

And the former Boro youngster is looking forward to catching up with old friends.

He said: “I think this is my first time back there. I missed the game last season, so this is definitely one I am looking forward to.

“I haven’t played at the Riverside since I was 18 or 19 and in the youth team. It will be nice to go back there, hopefully getting a positive result as well.

“There are one or two who were there when I was a young lad, so it will be nice to see them again.

“Tony McMahon is there and Adam Johnson is there, although he was only a youngster when I was in the youth team.”

Brunt has put the Baggies on alert for Johnson, who is earning rave reviews on the left of the Boro midfield following Stewart Downing’s summer departure to Villa.

The Baggies winger said: “When I was there Adam was only a first-year scholar, was in and out of the youth team and was quite small for his age.

“When I left to go to Sheffield Wednesday he emerged, played a few games and the next time I saw him he had shot up as well. He must be pushing 6ft tall now and that has benefited him.

“I don’t think anybody can question his talent if they look at the goals he has scored this season and he did well in this league on loan for Watford as well.

“He is a dangerous player and definitely one we will have to look out for.”

Albion are Boro have taken up the top two spots having both been relegated from the Premier League last season.

With Newcastle sitting third, all three relegated clubs are well set for promotion challenges.

But Brunt does not expect the promotion battle to remain as a three-horse race.

He said: “It’s surprising because you usually have a couple of slow starters among the teams that go down. But it’s different for a lot of our lads, who have played in the Championship before and know what it’s about.

“It is probably surprising for the likes of Middlesbrough and Newcastle more than us, because they were established Premier League clubs for eight or 10 seasons.

“Come the end of the season it might not necessarily be us three up there battling for the automatic places.

“There could be a few other teams involved as well.”