Richard Carpenter revealed today that he will miss the start of Albion's return to the First Division next season.

The midfielder will have surgery in the next few weeks on a persistent knee injury and he does not expect to be ready for the big kick-off on August 7.

"It's my left knee," Carpenter said. "It's wear and tear and I have been carrying it for a while.

"A few of the boys are going away together, then I am going to have a holiday and then I've got to have the operation.

"It could take two or three months and I will probably miss the start of the season.

"If I don't get it done it is going to be hanging over me and I don't like that. I would rather just know."

Carpenter's sixth promotion, three with Albion and one apiece with Gillingham, Cardiff and Fulham, was marred by a calf injury which forced him off after an hour in Sunday's final of the play-offs against Bristol City at the Millennium Stadium.

"I have played 50-odd games this year and that is just the way it goes," he said. "I feel like I played my part.

"They said to me before the game I am a lucky charm. I said then don't speak too soon.

"I've not had a mid-table season for a while but I think we would settle for that next year.

"It's going to be tough. If we don't learn from last year when we went down then we are mugs, and that is not just us as players it's everyone.

"The sooner we realise that the better, there is only so much you can do as players."