ANTHONY KNOCKAERT is desperate for an injury-free pre-season to hit the ground running second time around for Albion in the Premier League.

The French winger is haunted by ankle damage sustained in the Seagulls’ first friendly a year ago, which wrecked his hopes of a flying start.

Albion open their warm-up programme today against St Gallen in Switzerland (1pm).

Knockaert was hurt early on against Fortuna Dusseldorf in Austria last summer and only just made the big kick-off.

Knockaert, speaking at Albion’s Austrian training camp in Schruns, told The Argus: “All my pre-season was almost over. I managed to come back for the Atletico (Madrid friendly) game, but I was struggling for a few weeks. I was trying to come back as quick as I could to help the team, but the ankle is always difficult. It’s a part of the body that as soon as you hit it you can be struggling for a few weeks.

“I was trying to do the best for the team and to come back a bit early, but it wasn’t easy.”

Knockaert scored three goals in 33 games last season after starring in the Championship promotion campaign the year before with 15 goals in 45 appearances.

He rediscovered his form towards the end, after a red card at Everton.

“I think I was a bit more back to the level I should have been,” Knockaert said. “I needed a few months to discover the level. I hope this season I will be on it straight away. Hopefully this will be a better pre-season and I’ll be back to my level that I know I can be.”