Albion striker Miller relishes reunion

with Anelka

NICK PULLEN

West Bromwich Albion striker Ishmael Miller is keeping his fingers crossed some of Nicolas Anelka’s skills rubbed off on him.

The pair are set to clash on Saturday when Chelsea visit The Hawthorns for a late afternoon kick-off.

But they trained together during their time at Manchester City and Miller recalls: “He was really quiet and just concentrated on what he had to do – but then I don’t think he could speak much English at the time and just settled with the French speaking  players.

“That’s all I can remember of him other than the fact he was a great striker.

“He’s quick and strong, the sort of player I try to emulate. You try and take things they do in their game and learn from them. Then you try and bring some of that into your own game.

 Miller is under no illusions of the task ahead, but insists he isn’t fazed by the prospect of facing Chelsea in a classic top versus bottom clash.

However Miller maintained: “Obviously it’s something that’s not nice to see when you look at the league table, but being bottom is something we don’t talk about, because it’s a negative thing to do.

“It’s so tight at the bottom you only have to win one game and you could be up to 11th or 12th.

“We all know we’re capable of winning games in this league, but you just try to pick up as many points as possible.

“All you can do against teams like Chelsea is go and play as best as you possibly can, try and create chances and hopefully some of them will hit the back of the net this time. Chelsea seem to be playing a bit more of an open game, something that should help me, because it will create chances and I’m just hoping I can put some of them away. Sometimes it goes – and sometimes it doesn’t!

 Miller added: “The great thing is that you’re playing against Chelsea – one of the best teams in the world – and you want to show what you can do against them. There’s even more pressure on myself and Roman Bednar to score.

 “We’re starting to create an understanding between each other and I think we’re doing alright together.”