Kevin Phillips hails Hal Robson-Kanu in push for West Brom promotion

A clinical frontman in his playing days, Phillips scored 24 goals in 30 starts to fire Albion into the top flight back in 2008.

This season it has been primarily been Robson-Kanu leading the line for Slaven Bilic’s side.

And the 31-year-old is enjoying his most prolific campaign to date having scored 10 goals in 31 Championship appearances.

It is the first time Robson-Kanu has netted double figures in his career – with Phillips pleased the Welshman is getting the goals his performances deserve.

“Hal Robson-Kanu has really performed,” the 46-year-old said. “He has always been an exciting player, I’ve always liked his work ethic and his hold-up play. But this season he has added the goals that perhaps in previous seasons he hasn’t.

“I think he is getting into better positions. And it also helps playing in such a good side.

“In the two years I was at West Brom we played some unbelievable football – at times it was hard to miss.

“And Robson-Kanu has got supply coming from all over the place. But he is a right handful for any defender in the league. He has played very well.”

Phillips admits he would love to play in the current Albion side.

“I’ve been very impressed with Albion all season,” he continued.

“You look at the game at Millwall, I think that was pretty much the complete performance. They were excellent that day and have been all season really, the team is very exciting.

“You look at Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira, Callum Robinson, Matt Phillips – the attacking players are fantastic.”

Phillips had two years at Albion before rejecting the offer of a one-year contract extension to sign a two-year deal with Blues.

But he looks back on his time at the club with nothing but fondness and now loves attending games at The Hawthorns either as a pundit or fan.

“I was injured at the start of the season we went up but I came back and I was fine,” Phillips added.“I was in my 30s and I wanted a two-year deal, I was desperate to stay. But the club were only prepared to offer me one year.

“I did get a little bit messy and it was a shame because I felt I could have contributed in the Premier League – if I’d have stayed I think I would have added goals from the bench.

“But I went to Blues, scored on my debut and helped them win promotion as well.

“I loved my time at Albion, though, and always look back on it fondly. I love going back there and I’ll never have a bad word to say about the club – the two years I had there were incredible.”