Barnes itching to make his mark

Albion new-boy Giles Barnes is itching to make his mark on the promotion challenge.

But, should the midfield maestro have a significant impact against Blackpool tomorrow, there will be no shouting from the rooftops about his contribution.

Fresh from a notable Baggies debut against Sheffield Wednesday, Barnes is keen to be involved again when the Seasiders' play-off bandwagon rolls into the Midlands.

And the charismatic winger is a new man with a new club and a new challenge, starting a whole new career armed with lessons from his time as a precocious Derby teenager.

Propelled into the Rams' first team at 17-years-old and hailed as one of England's most exciting young talents, Barnes saw footballing fame and the associated riches drop into his lap.

Now, after three years blighted by injury that halted his meteoric rise, Barnes is back as a Baggie with a fresh appreciation of what he had – and what he wants again.

He said "It's made me not take things for granted. When you're 17 or 18 and you're flying you think it's like that every week, and you're excited to be playing.

"When it's taken away from you it's a big shock to the system. There are little things that have changed. I would say I am more humble now.

"It's not that I was a big-head before but you could tell when I'd had a good game or a good training session. But you don't need to tell anybody how well you did because they have seen it for themselves.

"You know if you have played well yourself and other people know you have played well, you don't need to tell everybody about it.

"It's about keeping humble because next week you might have a bad game and then you won't be talking as much.

"You've got to take the rough with the smooth and hopefully make the smooth things happen more consistently."

For Barnes the rough has outweighed the smooth, since this part in helping Derby County defeat Albion in the Wembley play-off final to reach the Premier League in 2007.

Foot and knee injuries limited his involvement in the Rams' dismal top-flight campaign and further trouble with his knee and Achilles then wrecked several comeback attempts, leading to his release from Pride Park before Christmas.

Albion took a chance on his fitness, awarding him an 18-month contract in January, and the player took the first step towards ending his nightmare with a seven-minute outing in midweek.

But Barnes is starting from square one to win over a new set of supporters.

He said" "At Derby all the fans and everyone saw me on a weekly basis, so they knew what I can do. Now in a way I am a new face, but in another way I', not, because I've played against West Brom before and done it in finals.

"But I want to show the fans here what I can do, and show the manager and everyone here exactly the same as I showed Derby fans when I was there.

"That's my aim now. I've got to show everyone that I can stay fit and play 25 or 30 games a season and not have any more injuries."

Barnes has tasted first team football again and is anxious to make a significant mark on the final 11 matches of the season.

Having experienced promotion once at Derby, the Barking-born forward is keen to dispel the notion that the remainder of this campaign is merely a fitness exercise with next season in mind.

Barnes instead wants to play his part in a bullishly predicted triumphant conclusion to a year of change at the Hawthorns.

He said: "It's up to the manager but I wouldn't say the season is just for getting fit. I want to play games and show everybody what I can do.

"That's why I like football. Next week somebody could be injured and you could be in and then it's your chance to grab the shirt and you could play the next 10 games. I want to make as big an impact as I can.

"I don't think the Championship has changed much in the last four years. There are a few bigger name clubs, like Newcastle, but everybody wants the same thing and everybody wants to do well.

"It's just like having 11 people in the same room after the same job. Everyone is fighting for what they want. But I don't think there is a better footballing side than us in this league and that's what other teams know.

"So they have to come here and get in our faces and we have to ride the storm for 60 minutes, like the other day.

"Then the football comes in after 50 or 60 minutes when teams are out on their feet, because we're fit and strong as well.

"So if we need to mix it up, we mix it up as well."

Barnes' new assignment sees him going head to head with Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies, who was influential in his rapid progression during their time together at Derby.

But the Baggies man is anxious to put one over on his former gaffer in a promotion race he believes is more open than many pundits claim.

He said: "Billy is a good manager. He will have them riled up and he will be informing them every day what is possibly achievable for them at the end of the season.

"But we know what is achievable for us at the end of the season for us as well and our goal is promotion. Everybody in the top six is after the same thing.

"Everybody thinks that Newcastle are running away with the league but there are 11 games left and anything can happen in 11 games.

"There is us and Forest and then Swansea, and there are other teams like Cardiff picking up points along the way. There are 11 games and a lot of points up for grabs."