Hodgson searches for defensive ´quality´

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has indicated that he would like to bring in an extra ‘quality’ player at the back.

The Baggies have been busy in the summer strengthening their squad with some shrewd acquisitions.

Zoltan Gera has returned to the Hawthorns signing a two-year deal and they have also added Birmingham City goalkeeper Ben Foster on loan, Ipswich Town defender Gareth McAuley and Reading striker Shane Long among others.

But Hodgson would still like to add another face to his squad at the back.

“The club, to be fair, have backed me on all the things I’ve asked them to do,” he told the Birmingham Mail.

“Things have got done and the three players I was most keen to get in – Foster, Long and Gera – are all here.”

“I’ve got to be grateful for that and in particular thank Dan Ashworth for the incredible work he’s done.”

“If we could get another centre-back in, particularly in case we lose one or two, then that would be very useful.”

But the Baggies boss did reveal that although his desire was to bring another centre-back, it would only be one that would improve the squad as he feels the team is better than it was last season.

“Having said that, we’ve got (Gareth) McAuley and (Craig) Dawson so I think we’re stronger this year than we were last year,” Hodgson said.

“We don’t necessarily need anybody because the bodies are there but if there was a quality player who could come in it would a player, in an ideal world, who could cover what we’ve got in both the centre-back and full-back positions.”

West Brom begin their English Premier League campaign at home against defending champions Manchester United on Sunday.