West Bromwich Albion might consider themselves unlucky to be starting their season away from home for the sixth successive year.

But midfield man Jonathan Greening is insistent that there are plenty of positive vibes to be had from kicking off at Manchester City on Saturday.

Along with Ronnie Wallwork, not to mention his manager Bryan Robson, Greening is one of three Manchester United old boys hungry for a result at Eastlands.

But Greening is happy to be playing City in the wake of the way last season's two fixtures went.

It was at Eastlands where Albion's 10 men produced the solid effort that turned their season. Coming in on the back of successive Christmas stuffings by Birmingham City and Liverpool, things went from bad to worse when they had Thomas Gaardsoe sent off for hauling back Robbie Fowler after 17 minutes.

But Albion gritted their teeth and were handed a large slice of luck when City defender Richard Dunne - sadly missing this Saturday, after kicking a wall - beat his own goalkeeper five minutes from time.

It helped Albion go on a run of one defeat in eight games and the best peformance in that run was the 2-0 win, the Baggies' first in the league in three-and-a-half months, which did for City at The Hawthorns in January.

"The City of Manchester Stadium holds good memories for us," said Greening. "The away clash saw us reduced to ten men but we still somehow managed to get a draw with that bizarre Richard Dunne own goal to end a run of five successive defeats.

"Then, at The Hawthorns in January, we picked up our first league win in three months to get our survival campaign back on track and ultimately pull off the Great Escape.

"And although we've got to put the Great Escape to the back of our minds, we shouldn't forget about it because it is good for confidence.

"We need to remember some of the good football we played. It is a new season and we don't want to be near the bottom again. We're capable of pushing further up the league so why not go for it?

"We're much more confident and I think you can see that in the way we play in training and games."

Greening also sings the praise of the new Albion fitness coach, Richard Hawkins, who has put the players through their paces in pre-season.

"We all feel a lot sharper," said Greening. "Hopefully, all the hard work we've put in will stand us in good stead on Saturday."

As to whether Albion will have a new face in their dressing room at Eastlands, that all depends on whether the Baggies get any further in their unexpected pursuit of Wigan Athletic striker Nathan Ellington.

Having tracked the striker for the past six months, Albion are ready to take advantage of a clause in Ellington's contract which allows him to talk to any club making a bid in excess of £3million.

But it also depends on whether Ellington, who has less than a year left on his current contract, can agree a new deal with Wigan.

Ellington and his adviser Tony Finnigan were due to talk terms over a new agreement with the JJB Stadium management yesterday afternoon. But, in the wake of Wigan having signed Henri Camara from Wolves for £3million, Ellington has to weigh up how that will affect him.