DAN Harris yesterday joined Tony Mowbray's backroom staff with the aim of making Albion's players 'quicker, stronger, fitter and more resilient'.

That is the goal the former Blues fitness coach intends to work towards in his new role as head of sports science at The Hawthorns.

And he is looking forward to putting the Baggies' troops through their paces when they return for pre-season training tomorrow in the build up to the Premier League.

"I want to build a sports science programme here at West Brom that we can be really proud of," said the 28-year-old.

"The idea of being here as head of the sports science department is to put in place a comprehensive programme that works towards getting players 'quicker, stronger, fitter and more resilient to injury'.

"I'm basically here to make sure the players have no excuses physically for being unable to perform in the Premier League.

"The aim is to have a sports science programme that strives to make a genuine impact on the performance of our players.

"I've seen the Championship first hand and I think it's a real credit to the playing staff and coaching staff here that this club has been able to dig its way out of the Championship with the type of football they played.

"The Premier League is a new challenge.

"The vast majority of players in the Premier League are fantastic athletes.

"My role is to make sure we can physically cope with the demands of the Premier League - to lay a platform which then allows the players to express themselves with their technical ability."

Cheltenham-born Harris spent two seasons as an outdoor activities instructor before moving on to study sports science at LoughboroughUniversity.

During his time there he was part of a research project for Lucozade looking into the 'effects of carbohydrate on football performance' and completed his UEFA B coaching license.

He joined Peterborough United in 2001 to work with the youth team before moving onto CoventryCity in 2002, where he spent four-and-a-half seasons.

In March 2006 he moved to Blues for a two-and-half-year spell and he is now relishing the challenge that lies ahead at Albion.

"When I came to see the environment at West Brom and speak to people at the club I could see straight away it is a club that wants to do things properly," Harris added.

"The feel I get around the place is a real positive one.

"I left Birmingham on good terms, there are some really good people there and I wish them well for next season.

"This was the right move for me at this time.

"This is a club that excites me because I believe they want to do things the right way and put foundations down that are going to help the club long term."

Harris has also spent the last four years working on an itinerant basis for the FA with England youth teams up to Under-20 level and lecturing on the 'fitness trainers' award' at Lilleshall.

And it was on various FA courses that he was first introduced to Mowbray.

"I've come across Tony Mowbray on the circuit and I've spoken to him a few times before," he said.

"People speak very highly of him and the staff here.

"I'm excited about coming to work alongside them.

"Everyone knows the manager is a football man who wants to play football the right way and the way fans want it to be played - I'm impressed by what he and his staff are trying to do.

"My job is to come in on the physical side of things and facilitate us being able to do that.

"My philosophy is that we have to look at each of the players individually.

"Within the squad there is a massive variety of physical shapes, experience, age and playing time - lots of different factors that make each of the lads different.

"We have to try and make sure each individual is improving physically."

PIC: FRESH FACE...Dan Harris

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