NEIL Clement has written off any chances of returning from injury before the end of the season.
The Baggies defender has been sidelined since the start of the campaign with an identical problem - an articular cartilage defect - in his right knee to the one he suffered in the other leg last term.
He had harboured hopes of repeating his dramatic comeback when he figured in the last nine games to help Tony Mowbray's men clinch the Championship crown and promotion last May.
But Clement, who is running again, is not risking coming back too soon this time around and has set himself a pre-season comeback target.
"I'm pleased with the way things are going," he said.
"I'm back running now, which is great.
"It's nice to be out of the gym and be outside.
"It's about getting fitter and fitter now.
"I think realistically I've got to write off this season.
"If I rushed back I could do myself some damage.
"It's taking longer than my left knee took.
"But saying that,I probably came back too soon with my left one and had complications, so I'm being a bit more careful so I don't end up breaking down.
"I've run out of time really.
"In my head it's all about being back in pre-season and not using pre-season to get fit.
"I want to be back training with the lads in about a month so after that I can keep ticking over with my fitness during the summer."
The club's current longest-serving player admits it has been mentally tough to battle back from a serious injury blow for the second successive season.
But he has thanked the Hawthorns medical staff for their help in guiding him through troubled times.
"It's been a nightmare if I'm honest," he added.
"The left leg was hard enough but to get a hammer blow at the start of this season was a killer really.
"I knew I needed a pre-season under my belt and was just starting to fly when it happened.
"It's been mentally testing to stay motivated.
"It's one of those where you have two or three good weeks and then a bad one.
"But everyone on the medical side has been brilliant and keeping me positive, as has my surgeon, who was brilliant."
Even now though, the former Chelsea man is not taking anything for granted.
"You never really know," he said.
"It's still healing now and it's about time.
"I can't rush it.
"I just do what I can knowing it's still healing."
