Club News

Brunt eager to banish pre-season ghost

Skipper relishing training return next week

CHRIS Brunt is hoping to steer clear of the summer injuries he feels undermined his 2012/13 campaign as he gears up for the start of pre-season at The Hawthorns next week.

The Baggies skipper was forced to fly home early from the Baggies’ tour of Scandanavia in mid-July last year due to a calf problem - and did not play in a friendly until facing Nottingham Forest just over a week before the season started.

He is now hoping for an injury-free build-up to the new Barclays Premier League campaign as he looks to rediscover his best form.

“My main aim this year is to come back and get a full pre-season under my belt because if you don’t it can affect you in the long run over the course of the season,” said Brunt.

“I missed a lot of training in pre-season last year and I didn’t get to play as many games at the start of the season as I would have liked.

“Generally last season I had a few niggles and missed a few games towards the end of the season as well.

“That sort of summed up my season really and my form suffered because of it.

“I haven’t been used to that in my career.

“Hopefully this year I’ll get a full pre-season under my belt and I’ll be fit and ready to go come August 17.”