Press review

Here you can read the most interesting English articles about the 'Magic Magyar'.

Steve Watson believes it will be like "having a new signing" if and when key West Brom midfielder Zoltan Gera returns to action for the finale of the Premiership survival battle.

The Hungarian skipper is edging closer to a first team recal after finally looking to have put behind him a catalogue of injury problems.

Gera has been back in full training for three weeks and already played half a reserve game with Baggies manager Bryan Robson confident he will soon be ready for some senior involvement.

Utility player Watson told PA Sport: "It would be massive to have Zoltan back. I obviously wasn't here last season so I've only really seen Zoltan from when I've played against him twice for Everton.

"But the lads and the gaffer, when I spoke to him in the summer before signing for West Brom, said he is phenomenal when fully fit.

"Sadly we've not had that this season but it would be like a new signing if he's back in the fold for the last nine or 10 games of the season.

"He has looked good in training. It is going to be a difficult battle for the next couple of months and the more quality players at your disposal for that battle, the better."

Gera was one of the key performers as Albion pulled off 'The Great Escape' last season but during the current campaign hand, hernia and pelvic problems have restricted him to a handful of appearances.

He has not started a game for five and a half months and broke down in attempted comebacks against Manchester United in December and then Reading in the FA Cup in January as a substitute.

Gera returned to Hungary last month to see a specialist in an effort to resolve his pelvic injury and has suffered no reaction since returning to the Black Country.

John Curtis
13 March 2005

(Sportinglife.com)