Clement in Megson admission

Neil Clement has admitted he may have quit West Brom had Gary Megson remained as manager at The Hawthorns.

Albion will entertain Megson’s new club Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup if they can overcome Tottenham in tonight’s fourth-round replay at White Hart Lane.

Clement has just signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract with the club which will guarantee him a testimonial and he is impressing in the centre-back role.

But he was becoming disillusioned with being used as a utility player by Megson who left the club in November after indicating he would not stay beyond the end of this season.

Clement said: “I started to think the versatility thing was counting against me a little bit under the previous manager.

“That was causing a few problems and, maybe if he had stayed, then it might have been a case of myself moving on. But the new manager (Bryan Robson) has come in and is playing me at the back which is where I want to play.

“The fact that Bryan Robson is the manager now was a massive factor in me signing the new contract recently. He has given me a lot of confidence.

“I am playing regularly where I want to play at the moment and, if I keep my individual performance level up, I hope I can continue to do that for him.

“At the back is my best position. I have played a few positions at the club but the new manager has played me left-back and centre-half and that is where I enjoy myself most.”

Clement admitted: “We have got a tough tie to try to get through at Tottenham but, after seeing the draw, it is an added incentive to try to get through and bring the old manager back here.

“I definitely think we are creating more chances and playing more attractive football now. It is nice having the ball more. I am enjoying myself more.”

Robson is looking for Jason Koumas to make his mark against Tottenham after claiming the Welsh international has “underachieved” for Albion.

Koumas is poised to start on the left side of a midfield decimated by suspension to Jonathan Greening and with newcomers Richard Chaplow and Kieran Richardson cup-tied.

Robson said: “I knew that Jason had to get his fitness levels up when I came into the club because, with him having been discarded like Ronnie Wallwork by Gary Megson, the fitness levels were not good.

“But it has been proved with Ronnie that if you get your chance and you work at it, then you can get into the team – and Jason has got that chance.

“I have had a few chats with Jason as to where I think he is and where I think he should be. He is falling below what I think he can produce at the moment. He is underachieving as a player.”