Summer signing Gareth McAuley today told of his pre-season sickness nightmare as he prepared for his delayed Albion debut at Bournemouth.

The Northern Ireland captain is in line to start at Dean Court in the second round of the Carling Cup tonight, after seeing the opening weeks of his Hawthorns career ruined by illness.

Now the 31-year-old, who felt ill throughout pre-season with suspected gastroenteritis, is finally set to make his Baggies bow as Roy Hodgson’s men look to crush the Cherries in Dorset.

McAuley said: “I’m feeling good now and hopefully the illness is all behind me. It’s not nice at any time but, when you’ve come to a new club, it’s really disappointing.

“Hopefully, now I can put it all behind me and get my strength back and get challenging for a place.

“It’s frustrating and you look for reasons why, but it was just a virus I contracted from somewhere.

“I tried to work my way through it but I think I just wore myself down and, eventually, it got the better of me.

“I did all the tests at the hospital and we sorted out a new diet to give me a chance to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible.

“It was good to get 90 minutes for the reserves last week, after having to come off in the international game at half-time.

“I’ve had a good couple of weeks training and it was nice on Saturday to be involved on the bench because that’s another progression.

“Hopefully now I can get 90 minutes against Bournemouth.”

McAuley, who arrived at the Hawthorns on a free transfer from Ipswich, is embarking on this season’s Carling Cup looking to go one better than last term, when the Tractor Boys reached the last four, disposing of the Baggies in the quarter-finals.

The defender, who missed the win over Roberto Di Matteo’s men at Portman Road, could figure in a much-changed team tonight but still insists Hodgson’s side are targeting an extended run in the competition.

He said: “It’s important for the club and the players. I was lucky enough last season to reach the semi-final against Arsenal but to go one step further and be involved in a team that won something would be everyone’s aim.

“This is a good competition to go and do that in. But I have been on the opposite end of it, as the so-called underdogs when the big boys have come along in cups and you really do raise your game.

“We’ve got to be at 100 per cent and apply ourselves to get into the next round.”

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