CARL Hoefkens has been relishing the chance to play Barclays Premier League football in the absence of Gianni Zuiverloon - but was left frustrated by Saturday's 3-2 defeat by relegation rivals Newcastle.

The Belgium international was hoping to build on his record of two wins from the three home league games he has started this season.

But individual first-half errors cost Albion the chance to jump out of the bottom three for the first time since November.

"I have enjoyed the chance to play and I can't complain about things because we've got good points in the games I have played," said Hoefkens.

"But there have been games like Newcastle, which were very bad, and I expect a lot more from games like that.

"It was a shame.

"It was frustrating to lose and even more frustrating to lose to soft goals like that.

"It was one of the games we definitely should have been looking to win.

"We showed character in the second half but by then it was a bit too late.

"It wasn't about bad positions, it was about bad decisions, it was down to individual mistakes.

"You can train as much as you want but, unless you cut out individual mistakes, you can't win football matches.

"We have to keep working and trying our best to cut them out."

The Baggies right-back has not been called up to the Belgium squad on this occasion and will therefore miss the chance to take on Robert Koren's Slovenia in tomorrow's friendly in Genk.

"I am not in the squad because I haven't been playing regularly and I pulled out of two squads in a row with injuries," Hoefkens added.

"They have been playing really well and this is a chance for some of the younger lads to play.

"But I know I'll get my chance to play again." 

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