West Bromwich Albion manager Bryan Robson is looking to the return of a fully-fit Zoltan Gera to supply the goals his team need to stay in the Premiership.

Only Birmingham City and doomed Sunderland have scored fewer goals in the Premiership this season than the blunted Baggies. Although Robson has had key injuries to all his strikers, the paucity of goals has largely been down to the long absence of his main supply line Gera.

Sunday's 0-0 draw at Villa Park was Gera's first 90 minutes in the Premiership since scoring in the dying seconds to earn Albion a draw at Sunderland in late September. Robson makes no apologies for admitting just how much the Hungarian wide man has been missed.

"We've got five games left and we've got to get good results in at least three of them," Robson said. "That means scoring goals. And Zoltan could be a major influence both in the way he creates and scores.

"I was really looking forward to working with him for a full season and when I spoke with Zoltan back in August he said to me 'This season, I'll get you 12 goals' and I believed him, because I think he's capable of doing that in the Premiership. He's got only 11 to go now!"

To have Gera back is a huge bonus at such a crucial stage of the campaign. Robson agrees that he will be all the better for Sunday's comeback game. "He wasn't outstanding against Villa," he said.

"But there were little flashes, and he's made Thomas Sorensen have to make a fantastic save. That showed what he can do and it's great to see him back fit and enjoying his football.

"But, unfortunately, this is what happens when you get injuries. We know we haven't scored enough goals and losing Zoltan has been the worst blow. But, while we'd never use it as an excuse, it's been typical of our season the way we've lost our strikers through injury just when they're starting to play well.

"Geoff Horsfield scores four in our first two home games then, bang, he gets a ham-string injury. Kevin Campbell gets himself in good form then, bang, an ankle injury keeps him out for weeks.

"Kanu was flying when he went to the African Nations' Cup then, bang, fractured cheekbone. It just seems to be the way our season's gone. You get players in form, they get injuries that keep them out for weeks and it takes the edge off them.

"In fact, apart from Thomas Gaardsoe, who's just had his operation but wouldn't have been considered anyway, when we play Arsenal on Saturday, it will be the first time I've had everyone 100 per cent fit all season."

Knowing that Thierry Henry was on the bench at Old Trafford on Sunday, and is hardly likely to be left out for a second weekend running, the canny Robson is unlikely to adopt Villa's courageous approach of trying to match Arsenal with two men up front.

But he will head for High-bury encouraged not only by last season's 1-1 draw there but Sunday's overall performance against Villa. "It was still a good point but I'm so frustrated not to beat Villa, not just for me as a manager

but for my players. David O'Leary can say what he wants but was it a 'fair result'? I don't think so!

"We battered them second half and deserved to win and, if my players keep the same belief and desire we showed on Sunday over our last five games, we can still do what we did last season.

"I saw Alex Ferguson in passing this week and he said 'What are you going to have to do to win a game?' The performance was almost perfect apart from the result and one refereeing decision over that second hand-ball. I just keep wondering when our break's going to come as we've not been getting any over the last two months."

Last season's successful trip to north London against a full-strength Arsenal came after a run of six points in ten matches. Albion's run before this season's visit? Six points in ten matches. Get your money on another 1-1 draw.