Aaron Connolly says he is ready to re-ignite his career after making “some wrong choices” on and off the pitch.

The Albion striker is in pre-season with Serie B outfit Venezia after joining on loan.

It is almost three years now since his startling two-goal Premier League debut against Tottenham.

The Galwegian striker admits he has not kicked on since then with his club, the Republic of Ireland or on loan at Middlesbrough.

He told Irish Football Fan TV: “It has not gone as well in the last two, three years maybe as I thought it would have gone.

“I started off well. I made some wrong choices off the pitch, on the pitch, and it’s little details like that.

“If you don’t get all that spot on it’s downhill, really from there.

“I got a lot of things wrong. If I could do it differently, I would.

“But it has happened now. Right now, physically or mentally, I don’t think I’ve been in a better place in years.”

He added with a rueful smile: “Italian pre-season is very different. A lot of running.

“Since I have been here for the last ten days it was tough.

“But now, physically or mentally, I haven’t felt this strong or happy in a long, long time.”

He added: “A lot of people know why I haven’t kicked on and I know myself.

"That’s why this move to Italy was vital, just to get away from kind of the circle I was in back in England.

“I needed a fresh start.”