Anthony Knockaert has made a promise to his best friend in football, which he intends to keep.

The Frenchman has told team-mate Connor Goldson that Albion will be in the Premier League when he returns to action.

Knockaert made the pledge while Goldson recovered in hospital from an operation to correct a heart condition spotted in routine screening by the club.

The surgery in London last week went well and the central defender is on course to resume his career next season.

Goldson, 24, was signed by Albion from Shrewsbury in August 2015.

Wing star Knockaert, a year older, arrived from Standard Liege in Belgium five months later and they bonded instantly.

Goldson's plight has given Knockaert another incentive to clinch promotion following the death of his father, Patrick, earlier in the season.

Knockaert told The Argus: "We talk every day and I'm delighted his operation went well. I told him don't worry when you come back on a football pitch, it will be in the Premier League. We will do it for you.

"He's an important player for us and we know his quality and what he can bring to the the team. Now I cannot lie to him - we have to do it.

"We hit it off straight away. He came to speak to me and I knew he was a good guy, you can see when someone is good. We laugh every day together. He's a very good friend, someone I can trust a lot.

"He was really behind me when my dad passed away and these are things you cannot forget.

"Everyone was like this when my Dad passed away, but with Connor it's something special we have together. "