Greening op for 'secret' injury

Jonathan Greening has undergone a double hernia operation after keeping the injury secret from manager Tony Mowbray over the final weeks of the Championship season.

Greening did not want to give his boss the chance to leave him out of the Albion side which took the second tier title.

And he is optimistic that last week's surgery will not halt his pre-season schedule when the Baggies start getting ready for their Premiership campaign.

"I felt it over the last 12 to 15 games, not so much during the games but afterwards at home," admitted Greening.

"I don't think I told the physio until there was around three games to go because I didn't want the gaffer to know. If he knew I had a hernia he might think I was struggling and bring me off in games.

"I don't think the gaffer found out until the end of the season so it was mine and the physio's little secret.

"I just didn't want anyone to know because I was enjoying being captain and the run we were on when we were beating Wolves and teams like that.

"I just wanted to carry on playing and I didn't want to give the gaffer any excuse to drop me. I felt a responsibility as captain.

"After we clinched promotion against Southampton I could have missed the last game but I wanted to help us win the game at QPR and lift the trophy.

"Now I can look back and say I played in every 46 games in the season and when I retire I can say what a great season it was."

Greening produced his best ever football for the Baggies in that time and will again be a key figure for the return to the top flight.

He added: "I got it done on Thursday and it's a bit painful at the moment. I feel as if I'm walking a bit like John Wayne and I didn't think it would be this bad!

"I'm not allowed to do anything for about a week and then I'll just gradually build up to the bike and then jogging machine."