Dean Hammond today revealed he has revived his hopes of a future with Albion.

The central midfielder made his first appearance in the first team for nearly two years in Saturday's 1-0 home win against Preston.

Hammond only has a three month contract, which expires at the end of September.

He said: "I only found out I was playing on Friday when the gaffer called me over halfway through training. From that moment on I was really excited, because I haven't played for a long time.

"It came as a big surprise because I've not been involved. All I've done is train and worked hard, kept my head down and hoped something would come along. I struggled with the pace to start with, but I thought I did okay.

"Before Friday I didn't know what my future was. I've not been in the squad or even travelled with the squad so it didn't look too good, but football is a funny old game and things change.

"We will have to see what happens from now on. I feel much better.

I've been picked and we've done okay and won, so you never know."

Manager Mark McGhee said: "Although he has been in the wilderness a little bit we gave him his chance and I thought he took it.

"He was terrific for a boy who has been plucked from obscurity really and probably was thinking he is on his way out of the club."

Defender Adam Virgo played as an emergency striker but it was Preston's Marlon Broomes who gave next-to-bottom Albion their first win of the season, heading Darren Currie's first half corner into his own net.

McGhee said: "Points-wise there is not much difference between us and Leicester and going somewhere like that is always exciting.

"We have still got a long way to go. We desperately want Charlie Oatway and Richard Carpenter and Chris McPhee fit and we still desperately want to bring in a centre forward to give these young boys help."