Zoltan Gera flipping keen on West Brom comeback

West Brom fans have not seen the last of 'that' somersault – at least not if Zoltan Gera has anything to do with it.

The Baggies hero believes he could retire today a happy man.

But to write off the 33-year-old would be to underestimate his resolve to return from injury and give fans one last display of his talents.

Gera's acrobatics have become synonymous with Albion success since they made their Hawthorns debut following a stunning first goal for the club against Tottenham in August 2004.

The sight of the Hungary international flipping backwards through the air as the ball nestles in an opposition net is a sure sign that all is well in the Baggies' world.

And, as he again embarks on the long road to fitness following a second ruptured cruciate ligament in as many seasons, Gera is determined that supporters will see it again.

"I need to do a somersault," said the 33-year-old midfielder-cum-forward.

"It's a target for me. I need to do a somersault because some people say I'm too old to do it."

There are few Baggies fans who would not welcome the prospect of an encore in the career of one of the most popular players to represent the club in the Premier League era.

But, having suffered the same injury for the second time in 14 months in an FA Cup third-round draw at QPR in January, Gera is all too well aware of the challenges ahead.

He insists, however, that calling time on his career was no more than a fleeting thought as he lay crumpled on the turf at Loftus Road.

"When I got injured I knew it was a bad time," he admitted, "partly because of my age but mainly because I had the same operation a year ago.

"I was down about it but, after I left the dressing room and even before I left the stadium, I was thinking about coming back strongly.

"I just thought 'I've come back once, I'll come back again'.

"If I needed to stop football now then I'd feel good because I have played for nine years in England, so I'm happy.

"It's not something I worry about. I feel happy with how I've done. If I needed to I'd stop, but I don't think about it.

"I stay positive because I want to play football. I love football and I just want to play for as long as I can.

"I say thanks to God for everything he's done for me. When I started to play football I was 16 and at that time I thought that might be it.

"So after what I've achieved in football, I'm quite happy."

Gera battled back from his previous injury setback in time to take a full part in Steve Clarke's first pre-season at the helm.

Such was the full-blooded nature of his return, he forced his way immediately into the Scot's starting XI and announced his comeback with an opening-day thunderbolt against Liverpool.

Now he admits that the brief spell back in the side convinced him his career is worth fighting for all over again.

"For six months while I played I felt good, had no problems and then this happened again," he said.

"But those six months were good for me. I played well, I was in the team and I felt I could still play football at a high level.

"Now I want to give back what the club and the supporters have me.

"For me that's the target."