West Brom haven't seen the best of me - Mepham

West Bromwich Albion defender Chris Mepham said the best is yet to come after he returned from the "most frustrating" injury lay-off of his career.

Saturday's 1-0 win over Watford was Mepham's first Championship start since being forced off with a hamstring injury against Stoke in February - and Albion's first clean sheet of the season.

The Wales international, who joined from Bournemouth ahead of last season, found it difficult to watch from the sidelines as Albion battled against the drop under James Morrison following Eric Ramsay's sacking.

"It was really tough," he told BBC Radio WM. "I've had a few injuries in my career, but I think 100% that was the most frustrating and difficult by far.

"When you're watching the lads in the position that they were in, you feel completely helpless; you feel that you can't contribute.

"It's the lads going out there putting their bodies on the line every Saturday and Tuesday and to be sat in the physio's room was a tough place for me.

"But I said in pre-season I don't think anyone has seen the best of me, and I stand by that."

Mepham, 28, started the Carabao Cup defeat against Newcastle last month but had been restricted to two stoppage-time cameos off the bench in the Championship this season.

He had fallen behind captain George Campbell and Nat Phillips in the pecking order as the centre-half pairing conceded six goals in four games during Albion's strong start.

"I like to think we've all got our own individual qualities; we're all different in our own way," Mepham said.

"For me today it was just about giving the manager as big a headache as possible.

"We've made a really strong start, so I don't think there are any complaints from my side, but we're all pushing each other; and that's how it should be. We really respect each other, we've got a really good relationship.

"I've been in this position before, and there's so many games, and your opportunity might come around quicker than what you might think."