The Baggies lost their opening two Premier League matches despite spirited performances against title-chasing duo Manchester United and Chelsea. Thomas was forced to watch both games from the sidelines with a groin injury but returned to the fold in Tuesday night's Carling Cup clash at Bournemouth. The former Arsenal winger was one of the standout performers in a 4-1 win at Dean Court and is now eager to help Albion get off the mark in the Premier League. "I think what most people have made [of our games so far] is that we have been unlucky in both games to come away without anything," he said. "But that is the nature of the Premier League, especially when you're playing the top teams. "Hopefully me scoring goals and setting up goals is what I can take into the first team and into the Premier League, which is what is going to get points on the table." Thomas opened the scoring on the south coast, ghosting down the left flank and finishing neatly in the seventh minute. Marc-Antoine Fortune's brace and a Simon Cox effort helped West Brom secure a convincing victory and progress to the third round. Thomas was replaced at half-time seemingly with Sunday's match against Stoke in mind and the winger believes he will be fit to feature. "I have been supporting the lads as much as I can and now it is good to be back out there," he said. "It was nice to score. I wanted to start the game sharp and we all know how hard these games can be, especially if you don't start right. "So it was important we took the game to them and it was nice to get the early goal. "It was a comfortable win in the end." He added: "I feel ready to get back in the side, especially with an extra day's training this week with the game being on Sunday. "I am ready to get back involved in the squad and hopefully get some points on the table in the Premier League." The result ended Hodgson's Carling Cup hoodoo, having only previously won a single match in the competition since 1997. West Brom, by comparison, have faired much better and reached the quarter-final stage last season. While Thomas admitted achieving a similar feat this term would be nice, he was philosophical about the competition's importance. "Being realistic, it is not [huge] in the grand scheme of things," he said. "Staying in the Premier League is the number one priority as it was last season and is this season. "But, especially with the squad we've got, it is important to get more players game time - i.e. today me, [Graham] Dorrans, Cox and Fortune got two good goals. "The back four did well with the new signings coming in so we've probably got a good squad for it and it is definitely good to get as far as we can."
