Chris Mepham has promised West Brom supporters that his best football in a Baggies shirt is still to come, after returning to the Championship starting line-up for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury against Stoke City in February.

A clean sheet on his return

The 28-year-old Wales international was handed a start in Saturday's 1-0 victory over Watford, a match that also delivered Albion's first clean sheet of the current season. It was, by any measure, a significant afternoon for both player and club.

Mepham, who joined from Bournemouth ahead of last season, described the enforced lay-off as the hardest he has endured in his professional career. Speaking to BBC Radio WM, he was candid about how difficult it was to watch from the sidelines while the team battled against relegation under caretaker manager James Morrison, following the sacking of Eric Ramsay.

"It was really tough," he said. "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."

Competition at the back

Mepham's route back into the side has not been straightforward. Despite featuring in the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle last month, he had been limited to two stoppage-time substitute appearances in the Championship this season. Captain George Campbell and Nat Phillips had established themselves as the preferred central defensive partnership, though they conceded six goals across four matches in what has otherwise been a strong opening to the campaign.

The Welshman was measured in how he addressed that competition, careful not to undermine teammates while making clear he intends to keep pushing for a place.

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

What it means for Albion

The win lifted West Brom to fifth in the Championship table. A clean sheet alongside three points represents the kind of combination that keeps promotion conversations alive at this stage of the season, and having Mepham available and match-sharp adds genuine depth to a defensive unit that will need to cope with the demands of a long second-tier campaign.

His confidence, even if it arrives dressed in the language of collective effort, is the sort clubs benefit from having around a dressing room. Whether the manager now faces the selection headache Mepham referenced is a more pleasing problem than the one Albion were navigating just a few months ago.

For a player who spent much of last spring watching on as the club scraped clear of trouble, the chance to contribute to something more optimistic will not be taken lightly.

Frequently asked

When did Chris Mepham last start a Championship game for West Brom?
Mepham's previous Championship start was against Stoke City in February, before a hamstring injury kept him out for several months. He returned to the starting line-up in Saturday's 1-0 win over Watford.
Where did Chris Mepham sign from?
Mepham joined West Brom from Bournemouth ahead of last season. He is a Wales international with 55 caps.
How is West Brom's defensive competition shaping up this season?
Captain George Campbell and Nat Phillips have been the preferred central defensive pairing, though Mepham's return from injury adds another option and he has made clear his intention to push for a regular starting place.