Cox ready to remain in midfield
Albion marksman Simon Cox is set to remain as a midfielder in his return to hometown club Reading.
The former Swindon striker returns to the Madejski Stadium tomorrow for the first time since leaving the Royals two years ago.
Cox looks set for a recall against the club where he learned his trade, although it's unlikely to be in a striking berth.
In the Baggies' 4-5-1 system, the 23-year-old has occupied one of the two attacking central midfield roles in his last three outings – two as a substitute – and scored his eighth goal of the season from that position at Plymouth last week.
He said: "I enjoyed that role, especially as I scored. In the first-half I did a lot of unnecessary running, because I hadn't played that role and didn't really know it. But if I keep playing there I will get to know it and probably get to love it.
"I've not played there before so it's unfamiliar for me but if this is the way the gaffer wants to play from now on, I don't see myself as a target man so this would be my sort of role."
Last weekend's start was his first for six games since the 3-1 defeat by Nottingham Forest, but Cox insists his spell on the sidelines did not dent his confidence.
He said: "I haven't been playing but I've gone in every day with a smile on my face and enjoyed my football. I came out of the team on the back of a the thumping by Forest but I didn't let that get to me.
"I went in every day and worked hard, knowing that we had loads of games coming up in the next couple of months and a chance would come for me."
Tomorrow's match will bring Cox face to face with new Reading manager Brian McDermott, who was his reserve team boss during his time as a teenager with the Royals.
Many Reading fans view Cox as 'the one that got away' after his deaprture to Swindon in 2008, having made just nine substitute appearances for his hometown side.
McDermott is hoping his former protege has an off-day.
He said: "I hope he has a nightmare tomorrow. Simon was one of those who Steve Coppell had to let move on to help his footballing career. We would have kept him, but he had to go and play games for himself and his career, as we had four strikers at the time going really well.
"But I'm pleased for the lad, he was at Reading for a long time and played a lot of games for me in the reserves and I'm pleased to see him do really well."