Liam Rosenior has told Albion’s players they will surprise themselves in the Premier League.

The experienced defender believes team mates will hit new levels of performance among the elite next season.

And he can’t wait to see it happen – preferably in the first match against Manchester City.

Rosenior said: “I have got so much confidence in our players and their abilities.

“That is what I am looking forward to the most – the moment they realise they can play against those top players and more than hold their own.

“I was the same in my first Premier League season. You think you’re playing against David Silva and Sergio Aguero on the first day of the season.

“Then all of a sudden you are tackling them or beating them one on one and you see that confidence lift.

“That goes for all of them. Dunky (Lewis Dunk) can do anything he wants to do in his career.

“You’ve got Anthony (Knockaert), Dale Stephens. Beram (Kayal) has been waiting for years to get a chance in the Premier League.

“People like Jamie Murphy, Solly March. I remember when I first met Bruno, he said it was his dream to play in the Premier League.

“There he is at 37 when he thought it wouldn’t be possible and he is going to be leading the team out for the first game of the season.”

Rosenior helped Hull City to promotion four years ago. They were caught in the headlights in the first 25 minutes of their Premier League return but bounced back from that 2-0 defeat to go on a good run.

Now Rosenior reckons a similarly tough opener for Albion can be a good thing.

He said: “It was Jose Mourinho’s first game back there.

“It was a great introduction because, even though we lost the game, we realised we could play at this level.”

Rosenior is impatient to get back into training after a rest.

He missed the fixture announcement as he was on a flight but said: “I found out when we landed.

“The first game is amazing. It is against one of my boyhood idols in Pep Guardiola. To play against them the quality of these players this season will be amazing.

“It’s going to be enjoyable – but only if we win games.”