Georgios Samaras: I am ready for West Brom
West Brom new-boy Georgios Samaras claims he is ready to prove himself in the Premier League – seven years after he last played in England.
The 29-year-old Greece international signed for the Baggies yesterday on a free transfer, penning a two-year deal after leaving Celtic at the end of last season.
And the 6ft 4in forward believes he is a better player than when he left Manchester City to move to Scotland seven years ago.
"It was many years ago," said Samaras, who netted 12 goals in 36 starts for City after joining from Dutch club Heerenveen for £6m.
"I'm more mature now and know football better than when I was younger. I had seven beautiful seasons at Celtic and I'll keep all those good things. Now it's a new start and challenge in my career – and I'm looking forward to that.
"As a professional footballer you want to get better and better and I believe I have changed from 22 to now, like anybody would in any job.
"The people around the club are kind and I feel like it is a family club. It was an easy decision for me to come here. I had a really nice chat with the gaffer; he's Scottish so we spoke our language! I believe this is a new challenge in my career and I'm ready to take it. I want to help this team do well in the Premier League."
Samaras will compete with Victor Anichebe, Saido Berahino and record signing Brown Ideye for places in the Baggies forward line but he was not ready to play a part in today's Premier League game at Southampton.
Head coach Alan Irvine said: "We have now got four strikers with different qualities who can be used in different ways. That's great for us, because we need to have flexibility, the option to approach games in different ways."
