'Bring it on!' - Wolves and West Brom legends excited for return of Black Country Derby

As the Championship fixtures were released, it was revealed that fans would only need to wait until the eighth game of the campaign for the first derby as Albion make the short trip to Molineux on September 19.

The reverse fixture at the Hawthorns is set for February 20, as the bitter rivals meet in the league for the first time since 2021 and the first time in the second tier since 2008.

Wolves’ top goalscorer Bull is confident that Wolves can secure local bragging rights next season in the two crunch clashes.

"It's huge,” he told the Express & Star.

"When we played them last time in the FA Cup we were a Premier League side and we had some superb players, but they've all gone now and it's going to be totally different.

"This is massive for the fans. You want the bragging rights and the team have to go out there and give everything because it will be a proper battle.

"It's a big game for the fans and everyone will be talking about it.

"I'm glad the first one is at home because our fans will give the players a lift and if they can't win that game with the fans' backing then there's something wrong.

"It will be a massive, electric atmosphere at Molineux and we should give a good account of ourselves.

"Hopefully by then we have three or four wins under our belt after a good start.”

Wolves have not beaten Albion in the league since 2011 and Bull hopes the players are aware of the importance of these games.

"We're now both Championship sides and it will be a scrap, a battle, a fight and the football will be totally different,” he added.

"In a derby, you have to roll your sleeves up and put the graft in, with the extra push from the fans.

"Whether it's Albion, or anyone else, bring them on! I think we're going to be in for a good season this year.

"The players should know how big these games are and if they don't get the DVDs out and show them!”

Albion promotion-winner and golden boot winner Phillips believes supporters will be relishing the clash at Molineux come September.

EFL pundit Phillips was often the scourge of Wolves and bagged nine career goals in 17 games against the Molineux men - four while playing for the Baggies.

The former striker told the Express & Star: "When you hear fans saying they don't want their rivals to come up, they want them to get relegated - you don't. You want them in the same league.

"They're magic. When that date comes around in September, the town will be buzzing. Obviously at Wolverhampton it'll be buzzing.

"The Baggies fans will be buzzing, looking forward to travelling there. It's been a while, certainly in a league fixture. It will be on TV and hyped up.

"There's nothing like it. You can't beat it.

"When it comes all eyes and attention focuses on it. There'll be nervous excitement because at the end of the day it's the bragging rights. You just don't want to lose a derby. It's as simple as that.

"Fans will have colleagues at work who support Wolves. You don't want to go to work without those bragging rights."

Wolves were comfortable 2-0 winners in the bad-tempered FA Cup win at The Hawthorns two years, but Phillips has more confidence this time.

"Yes of course they can, one hundred per cent," he added of the Baggies picking up a victory.

"It's going to be a new look West Brom side. Wolves have come down, with those parachute payments, it'll be interesting to see the signings that come in there over the coming weeks.

"But it doesn't matter, form does go out the window.

"Sometimes playing away from home can help, if you've got the right mentality in the camp, to work hard and prove a point it can be better for you. The pressure's more on the home team."