Phillips basks in his Indian summer

SIX WEEKS AGO Kevin Phillips was convinced his career could be over, but the West Brom forward has defied medical science to make a miracle recovery in his attempts to power Albion back to the Premier League.

Phillips was stretchered off in agony last month in the game against Sheffield Wednesday after rupturing his cruciate and feared he would be forced to quit the game.

But the 34-year-old has returned ahead of schedule without needing an operation and marked his premature comeback as a late substitute with the decisive fourth goal that killed off Charlton.

Phillips is out of contract this summer and is now on a double mission to hoist the Baggies to promotion and earn a new deal.

He said: “I’m just delighted to be back and playing because I did fear the worst and wondered if that would be the end of my career.

“We kept it pretty quiet but I ruptured part of my cruciate. We wanted to see how I went because normally that injury is an operation and out for eight months.

“If that had been the case I don’t know if I’d have been able to come back from that.

“I’m one of those lucky players that’s able to carry on with it. I’ve got through the worst of it although it’s still something I’ve got to keep on top of for the rest of my career. I’ve been lucky, simple as that.

“Would I like a new deal? If I get one, I get one but if I don’t I’m sure someone will give me one.”

And while Phillips’ 11th goal and his return will provide a massive New Year fillip for boss Tony Mowbray, the true star at the Hawthorns was Hungarian winger Zoltan Gera.

The Zoltan of Swing — also out of contract in the summer — produced an outstanding individual display to undoubtedly increase the chances of his exit in the New Year, with Bolton and Middlesbrough ready to pounce.

Despite Charlton taking a shock lead through Chris Iwelumo’s towering header, Gera released Roman Bednar for the equaliser and then headed the home side into the lead.

Substitute Izale McLeod squeezed in a leveller for the Addicks but Gera’s header, from another inch-perfect Chris Brunt cross, and Phillips’ finish sent the Baggies to the top of the Championship.

It was Charlton’s first away defeat in five matches but manager Alan Pardew is determined to bring in new recruits in the January sales.

“I’ve made a case to the chairman that we bring one, maybe two players into this group,” he said. “We have to do that by whatever means we can.

“But a lot of other Championship sides will be smelling the Premier League and they’ll strengthen as well. So it’s going to be a really tough run-in.

“But I must say I’m glad both teams are right up there in the promotion race. It sends the right signals to the rest of the Football League that we have to see the back of percentage football and we need to get the ball down and pass it.”

WEST BROM (4-4-2): Steele 5, Hodgkiss 5, Robinson 6, Cesar 6, Pele 7, Koren 6, Greening 6, Teixeira 5 (Phillips 71, 8), Gera 7, Brunt 8, Bednar 7 (MacDonald 90, 6).

Subs Not Used: Barnett, Beattie, Martis.

CHARLTON (4-4-2): Weaver 6, Semedo 6, Powell 6, Bougherra 6, Sodje 6, Holland 7, Ambrose 6 (Varney 64, 6), Zheng 5, Thomas 7, Reid 6 (Sankofa 69, 6); Iwelumo 6 (McLeod 45, 6).

Subs Not Used: Randolph, McCarthy.

REFEREE: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire) 7: There were a few niggly fouls by Charlton and the official infuriated Athletic boss Alan Pardew by refusing to award the visitors a penalty for a clear foul on Zheng Zhi by Bostjan Cesar.

MATCH RATING: **** At a time when the Championship is establishing a reputation for being so aesthetically unpleasing, this was a reminder that teams can play attractive football in their pursuit of the promised land.