West Bromwich Albion's new loan star Roman Bednar aims to make the most of a "dream" opportunity after manager Tony Mowbray threw him a lifeline after a troubled 12 months at Hearts.

The Czech Republic International has had a torrid last few months up in Edinburgh despite a great start to life in the Scottish Premier League.

He has spent the last year dogged by debilitating injuries and hopes his 12 month loan spell with the Baggies could develop into a permanent deal.

And the 24-year-old has revealed that Albion's technical director Simon Hunt played a big part in his move southwards.

The two worked together at Hearts where Hunt was formerly manager George Burley's assistant before leaving to join up with Tony Mowbray just before the play-off final at Wembley.

Speaking in broken English, Bednar said: "I am very glad to be here at West Brom. It has been a very difficult time for me but I am very happy now.

"The club is good, the players and the coaching staff and they are helping me to settle.

"I only found out I was coming here and that the deal was done a few minutes before the transfer window closed on August 31.

"I had been at Hearts for two years but it had always been my dream to play here in the English league."

Bednar, who joined Hearts from Czech side Mlada Bdeslav in July 2005, had a blistering start to his career under Burley, who at the time described him as "one of the finest strikers I had ever seen."

He scored 13 goals in 39 games including a key goal against arch rivals Celtic in 2006.

And he claims he is prepared for the competition for places at Albion because it was just as tough, north of the border.

He said: "I didn't want to stay at Hearts anymore - a lot of things happened - the way they play, the way they trained and I wasn't enjoying it anymore.

"There was competition but it was not so much if I played up there but a question of how we played."

Bednar realises he has a stern test ahead particularly as he has had injury after injury but is now focused on getting fit and trying to fight for contention - first with the reserves and then with the first team when Albion reconvene their Championships season at home to Ipswich on September 15.

He said: "My fitness has been very poor but I consider myself to be a good player and hopefully the players here will help me and I will help them. I can run and I can shoot and I can play good football.

"Fitness has been a problem but now I want to try again from the beginning and hopefully play football to the best of my ability.

"Most of my injuries were small tears in the muscles but I didn't think it was all my mistake. I think it was more to do with the way we trained."

Bednar now hopes to start training with the team on Monday and hopes to be eligible to play in two weeks.

He said: "The manager is going to give me time. I think in the past even when I wasn't 100 per cent fit they pushed me to play but here the manager wants me to be right before I play again.

"There are some very good strikers at this club but I relish my chance for some games. The manager can play different strikers for different games so now I want to be fit and after that I will see about challenging to play for the first XI but for now I am concentrating on my fitness."

Bednar added: "My move from Czech Republic to Scotland went very well at first. I didn't speak a word of English to start with and for the first seven games my manager George Burley and I understood each other on the pitch.

"I was under pressure when I started but I didn't mind that. If I win my battle with fitness then this move will be everything I wanted. I hope this move will lead to something permanent. I would love to stay here."

Bednar continued: "I only know Simon (Hunt) from Hearts and he was the most important person in my move - he told the manager about me.

"I don't know why he left Hearts and I didn't know Simon was at West Brom until I heard the club might want me. He was definitely the most important person in that move and I intend to repay him."