New West Brom team-mates prepare Jay Rodriguez for the hills of Austria

The 27-year-old, who was signed on Sunday for £12million rising to a possible club-record £15m, arrived just in time to fly out with the Baggies yesterday.

Tony Pulis’s annual pre-season camp is now notorious, with its 5am wake-up calls and back-to-back jogs up hills. But Rodriguez insists he is eager to sink his teeth into the action.

“I’ve heard a lot from everyone I’ve met and spoken to before,” said the former Southampton forward. “All the boys said ‘are you ready for the Austria trip?

“Hopefully I’m ready, it’ll be a good trip and to get to know the lads will be important for myself.

“I know it’s going to be a tough pre-season but for me that’s what it’s about, getting ready for the season to start.”

Two years ago, Pulis’s pre-season methods were described as pre-historic by Dutch coach Raymond Verheijen.

But Albion lost the least number of days to injury in the Premier League last season and the medical team highlight this week in Austria as a crucial bedrock of that success.

Rodriguez, too, says he’s been impressed with the way Pulis improves players both physically and technically.

“I know about Tony Pulis, what he does, how he brings players on,” said the England international. “Having spoken to him, I was really impressed. I just can’t wait to get started.

“As a player, you know it's a short career and you want to maximise every game you play. You want to be develop and become the player you can become.”

This week Pulis revealed that Rodriguez’s versatility was a key reason he was chased for 12 months, saying he could play in any three positions across the forward line.

The former Burnley youth-team player made his name cutting in off the left for Southampton in 2013/14, when he scored 17 goals in one season, but has recently been played as a central striker.

He insists he is happy to play anywhere, provided he is helping in the final third.

"I want to be on the pitch, helping the team and wherever that may be I'm happy to do it,” he said. “As long as I'm working hard and improving on each game.

"I want to score goals and create chances and help the team in that way."

Pulis has taken several youngsters out to Austria with the first team squad.

Centre-back Dara O'Shea and left-back Max Melbourne, who are both 18, have joined fellow defender Kane Wilson, 17.

Midfielders Sam Field, Jonathan Leko, and Rekeem Harper have also travelled, as has forward Tyler Roberts, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Shrewsbury Town.