Vicente can hold key for Albion (From The Argus)

Vicente can hold key for Albion

5:30pm Monday 6th February 2012 in Albion By Andy Naylor

Vicente in action against Leicester

WILL Buckley has backed Vicente to follow his lead and recover from injury to become a key player in Albion’s promotion challenge.

Vicente came off the bench to supply the cross for Buckley’s 90th- minute volleyed winner against Leicester at The Amex.

It was the Spaniard’s first appearance since mid-October following a series of injury problems which have severely limited the former Valencia playmaker’s involvement.

Buckley, who has hit top form after persistent hamstring problems, told The Argus: “It is frustrating for us because we see what he can do.

“It’s been even more frustrating for him. He’s had niggly injuries since the word go. If we can get him back fit he has showed what he can do in 20 minutes.

“He set me up unbelievably well. He has proved it at Champions League level, so I am sure he’ll be confident he can do it at Championship level in England.

“Every day in training he is getting better, which we expect to be honest. We have not seen much of him but we know how good he is. “When you start playing 90 minutes every week you are going to get into your stride and start to play your best football. That happened to me so hopefully when Nooney gets back, Kaz and Vicente it’s getting exciting.

“The fans are excited, everyone at the club is excited, so we are definitely looking up. We’re not looking down, we’re not going to finish bottom half. If we get in the play-offs it will be unbelievable.”

Albion are two points outside the play-offs after Buckley’s fourth goal in six games, two of them last-gasp winners, “I scored quite a few goals from midfield for Rochdale,” he said. “At Watford it didn’t really happen for me in terms of goals but now it just seems to keep falling for me. I hope it continues.

“We keep going as a team right to the last minute, I keep trying to get into the box and it keeps falling to me.

“Leicester are a massive team and club looking to sneak into the play-offs in the second half of the season. We knew what we were up against and we showed we can match the best teams in the league.”