Kyle Bartley: I feel like I've been at West Brom for years

The 27-year-old joined from Swansea in the middle of July for £4million rising to a potential £6m should the Baggies win promotion.

And he’s already been in the wars for his new club, having been bandaged up in his past two home games following cuts to the head.

But he’s more than happy to put his body on the line, because bonds are building quickly with his new team-mates.

“The lads that have been here for a while have really welcomed us in,” said Bartley. “We’ve got a real tight unit already. It feels to me already like I’ve been here for years.”

Bartley is now sporting a new set of stitches above his left eye after suffering another cut to the head during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Stoke, when Albion’s backline repelled 41 crosses in total.

He was also bandaged up during the 7-1 win over QPR.

“It’s the second lot of stitches in a couple of weeks but so what when you get the three points,” he said. “The last one was on the top of the head, this one is just above the eye, but a few stitches and I’m ready to go.

“We had to deal with a lot of balls into the box with the threat that Peter Crouch brings but I thought everyone battled really well.

“First and foremost we have to try and stop those crosses at source. It’s our job when it does come into the area that we’re the ones who stop them heading it."

Head coach Darren Moore, a former centre-back himself, was just as calm when asked about Bartley's bandages.

"It's what defenders are there for," he said. "We're not there to look nice.

"Barts will need a few stitches but I thought him, Ahmed (Hegazi), and (Craig) Dawson got some towering headers in where Stoke looked threatening and stood up as three strong pillars in our defence."

Despite that rearguard action, Stoke scored in the 95th minute through an Erik Pieters strike.

“We were disappointed to concede at the end – it was a great strike," said Bartley. "It would be nice to keep a clean sheet but pleased to get the three points.

“As long as we keep winning we won’t be too fussed but it is important for us to start keeping clean sheets especially at home. As a defender that’s something that’s important to me.”

After losing to Bolton on the opening day of the season, the Baggies have now won four games in a row at The Hawthorns in all competitions.

“We’ve got to make this place a fortress,” added Bartley. “That is pivotal in this league. We know teams are going to come here and almost be afraid of us if we keep playing the way we are.

“That is the kind of attitude we want the opposition to have and then we can control the game and dictate how we want to play.

“It was disappointing to concede in the last minute against Middlesbrough but we’ve put that behind us.

"We will work hard and make sure we are raring to go against Birmingham.”