Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Brunt set to pack his Baggies
FORMER Northern Ireland star Chris Brunt has vowed to to leave West Bromwich Albion on a high by helping lead the Baggies to the promised land of the Premier League.
Brunt, 35, confirmed yesterday that he will leave the Hawthorns club at the end of the season, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable 13-year stay in the West Midlands.
Albion, who lie second in the Championship with nine games to play, are scheduled to return to action behind closed doors on the weekend of June 20.
Brunt, who called time on his international career in 2018, said: “Over the next few weeks I will be doing everything in my power to get us back to the
Premier League. I’ll be ready if the manager needs me and my entire focus will be on doing everything to get us back to where this club and its fans belong.
“Though it may not come as a massive surprise to many, I thought it best we clarify the situation now before we begin playing the final nine games of the season. We cannot afford to have any distractions from our goal.”
Brunt has made 419 Baggies appearances since joining the club from Sheffield Wednesday in 2007 and is eager to play on next season.
“I hope a new challenge awaits elsewhere,” he said. “It will be strange to play for another club but I feel I still have plenty to offer. There’s a bit of football left in the tank yet.”
Stoke City boss Michael O’neill tried to sign Brunt in January and may be tempted into another move for his former international player in the window.