Shorey hopes for fresh start

Shorey: Fresh start

New West Brom defender Nicky Shorey is keen to get his Premier League career back on track after moving to The Hawthorns.

The 29-year-old left-back endured a frustrating two-year spell at Aston Villa, where first-team opportunities were hard to come by under former boss Martin O'Neill, resulting in loans to Nottingham Forest and Fulham.

Shorey switched to the Albion for a fee of £1.5million earlier in the week, and he is looking to put his Villa career behind him and concentrate on the future.

He said: "To be honest that is in the past and I am happy that is in the past and that I can look forward to the future with Albion.

"I want to put my Villa experience behind me and concentrate upon football.

"Other players have their own opinions but I prefer to keep them to myself.

"I wanted to play for Villa but I had a great spell at Nottingham Forest where Billy Davies was great to me as was Roy Hodgson at Fulham.

"I had no qualms about being among six players put on offer by Villa. I just wanted to play regularly and that is what I'm looking forward to doing at Albion.

"The lads at Villa were top class and I enjoyed working with them. There was a great British core and that was nice.

"But I knew the score when Villa signed Stephen Warnock. I have not got any bitterness and I have learned from the experience."

Settled

The once England international hopes to get a good run of games under his belt and settle down with the Baggies.

"Hopefully I can now settle down with Albion because I was at Reading for seven years and it has been tricky for me for the last couple of years," he added.

"But I know nothing is guaranteed in football and you just have to enjoy your football when selected.

"I had high hopes when I went to Aston Villa but that is football and sometimes it doesn't work out.

"I am not bitter. You learn from these experiences and I am just looking forward to playing in the Premier League.

"I've always believed in my ability and I still think I can play at the highest level. Hopefully I will now have that opportunity."

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