Campbell lifts West Brom for battle ahead
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Your support makes all the difference.Kevin Campbell has admitted keeping West Bromwich Albion in the Premiership would give him greater satisfaction than the League championship medal he won with Arsenal.
Kevin Campbell has admitted keeping West Bromwich Albion in the Premiership would give him greater satisfaction than the League championship medal he won with Arsenal.
Campbell played an important part in Arsenal capturing the title for the second time in three years in 1991, scoring nine goals in 22 matches. But now in the twilight of his career, the 34-year-old would view saving the Premiership's bottom club from relegation as an even bigger achievement.
Campbell has signed an 18-month contract with Albion after ending a six-year association with Everton and moving to The Hawthorns on a free transfer.
The former England B striker said: "Keeping West Brom up this season would probably give me more satisfaction than winning the title with Arsenal all those years ago.
"I say that because when you are at a big club like Arsenal you are expected to win every game and you are expected to be up there challenging for the big honours.
"Everyone expects the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal to take the title - but no one expects West Brom to stay up because, as they say, the team bottom at Christmas is relegated.
"It is a matter of breaking that hoodoo. It would give the fans of West Brom a lot of pride to say, 'We were the team to break that hoodoo' and I think we can do it.
"I think there is a good squad here and, with a few additions, I think the squad could really jump up the table. I really believe that. I wouldn't have joined if I didn't think that was the case.
"I think the players in the team can do better - and will do better. They've started to turn their form around in the last few matches and, with a little bit of luck, can move up the table."
Campbell admitted the presence of Bryan Robson as West Brom manager had been a key factor in him moving to Albion. "I had other offers but players respect players and Bryan Robson - or should I say 'gaffer' now - was a fantastic player," he said.
"I played against him when I was younger at Arsenal and he had a presence on the pitch and has a presence off it. To know that someone of that calibre is looking to sign you does make a difference. He said he is looking to bring more players but I am concerned with the players at the club now and how I can add to that. I was sold on that."
Robson said: "Kevin has a proven record at the top level of one goal every three games throughout his career and if he can reproduce that here it will go quite some way to getting the wins and the points we need to stay up.
"He has vast experience, and has tasted both ends of the spectrum with winning the title at Arsenal and being relegated at Forest, and I have every faith in him."
Meanwhile, Robson has put the Swiss international defender Bernt Haas and the Macedonia FYR midfielder Artim Sakiri on the transfer list.
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