Having been on the verge of leaving in the January transfer window, the 30-year-old now hopes he can earn a contract extension - there is an option for another 12 months on his current deal - come the end of the season. The Ivory Coast international has featured in a seven-match run which has seen the Baggies beaten just once and taken them to the verge of Premier League safety. Prior to Hodgson's arrival in February Meite had not played in the league this term and that situation almost forced the player out of the Hawthorns. "Yes, I did think I might need to leave," he said. "It was hard for me but I've tried to be professional because I'm a footballer. This is life. "I had a chance to leave in January. There were a few things but I said I preferred to stay here and would then see in the summer. "Football, you can be the hero one day and on the floor the next day. I was on the floor but now I'm playing I am okay. "I am happy here and yes, of course, I would like to stay. "I know I have had something to prove to the fans, to the club and to myself. "This is now my time to try and do it. I still have a few years left. I am confident of playing some more." Unsurprisingly, Meite fully backs Hodgson, who arrived at West Brom after a torrid six months at Liverpool, to continue the progress at the club. "I want to stay because we have a new manager and he can do a good job here," he told wba.co.uk. "He is experienced, he is strong. He knows what we need to do. "Our shape is stronger and different and he talks with everyone in the squad and he's there all day and all of the night for us. "He's good for us and good for the club. He did a good job at Fulham, taking them to the Europa League. He can do that here."
