Zoltan Gera today revealed how the “perfect combination” of Albion and head coach Roy Hodgson lured him back to the Hawthorns.

The Hungary international confirmed he rejected the chance to stay at Fulham to link up again with Hodgson – and return to his footballing ‘home.’

The 32-year-old rejoined the Baggies yesterday on a two-year deal and told how the emotional pull of the club combined with the presence of Hodgson, who signed him for the Cottagers, drew him back to the Midlands.

Gera said: “Fulham tried to keep me, not just the new manager Martin Jol but Mark Hughes as well.

“But sometimes a player feels he needs to move. I was happy there but coming back to West Brom with Roy was the best thing for me.

“I didn’t need to look for any better because I know Roy and I know the club, so I can say I have come back home.

“From the first day I came back to the training ground everyone was so nice and I felt at home.

“Supporters have stopped me in the street and asked me to come back, which is really nice.

“I didn’t have to think about anything else. This is the right thing for me.”

Gera re-signed for Albion yesterday as a returning hero, having become one of the club’s most popular players of recent times during his initial four-year spell with the club.

And the Baggies favourite admitted his second arrival at the Hawthorns feels very different to his first, when he was relatively unknown to English fans and unsure how well he would rise to the challenge.

He said: “It’s different for me now because when I came here I felt this was the best squad in the world.

“I came from Hungary and when I got here I just thought ‘this is unbelievable, how can I play in this team?’

“But players have improved the club a lot and we have lots of good players and internationals. We have a very good squad.

“I have supported West Brom while I have been at Fulham. For all three years I looked for their results.

“Three years ago I decided to leave West Brom because I felt that was best for me.

“But now I am so happy to come back and I’m emotional as well because the club gave me a lot and hopefully I can give that back in the next few years.

“The reception from the fans when I played against West Brom was amazing for me. I never experienced that before and I never expected it.

“It was a very good feeling to play against West Brom.”

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