The only way is up for Ishamel Miller

Albion are a week away from the end of a vintage year - but Ishmael Miller cannot wait to see the back of 2010.

The Baggies striker thought he would struggle to match that annus horribilis of 2009 – but the last 12 months have been almost as bad for the 23-year-old.

Now the powerhouse forward is relishing the start of 2011 with his fingers crossed for a change of luck in the New Year.

Two serious knee injuries followed by calf and ankle problems have forced the former Manchester City man into the treatment room for large parts of the last 24 months.

Now, two years after his problems started with a freak cruciate ligament rupture in a Premier League clash with Portsmouth, Miller is starting his latest comeback full of optimism.

He said: "Everyone makes New Year's resolutions and intends to keep them. And maybe you think 'this is going to be my year' or 'is this year going to be better than the last?'

"But I just think, if I stay injury-free, everything else will fall into place. I haven't had much luck and all I can do is hope, which is what I've been saying for a long time.

"I feel quite good right now and I'm doing the extras I'm being asked to do and it's keeping me in good shape and keeping me feeling better day by day.

"Now I feel better than I did on pre-season and even towards the end of last season when I was playing."

Miller's misfortunate since Christmas 2008 would have tested the patience of many a sportsman.

The injury, suffered in a freak collision with keeper David James, arrived as he appeared to be finding his feet in the Premier League.

And, when a first operation to repair the damage proved unsuccessful, he found himself back to square one in the summer of 2009.

Since returning to action at the end of last season, Miller's progress has been hampered be a series of niggling problems.

But, despite admitting to some low points in his rehabilitation, the former England under-21 striker insists he never succumbed to depression.

He said: "I'm not one of those people who thinks too much about things. If something happens it happens and that's the situation you're in. Sometimes you can't do anything about it.

"I've been getting freakish injuries that either people haven't seen or have never happened to me before. I can't do anything about it – that's just life.

"I'm still only 23 and hopefully I've got a lot of years ahead of me."

Despite a rotten run of fitness problems, Miller is confident he can shake off his 'injury-jinxed' tag – just like a friend from his youth.

He said: "I remember Nedum Onuoha, who is on loan at Sunderland now and was at Manchester City with me. When he was young had a lot of bad injuries time after time.

"I don't like to see people call me injury-prone and tags like that.

"It is true at this time because I have had injuries, but I'm trying to get over it."