Jason Steele wants to see Albion control games – helped by key men returning from injury.

The Albion goalkeeper kept a largely untroubled clean sheet in the 1-0 friendly win at QPR on Saturday.

Head coach Fabian Huerzeler sets great store by such shut-outs and his St Pauli side had the best defensive record in 2.Bundesliga last season.

But Steele believes the return of several players sidelined at times last term can also help them have a more solid look in the coming campaign.

Albion took some heavy defeats from late January onwards.

Asked whether he would be less exposed in goal this term, Steele said: “I don’t know.

“But what I felt (at QPR) was we controlled a lot of the game with and without the ball, which was very pleasing.

“I think in some respects, if you look at last year, we lost an awful lot of players.

“To try and keep playing in the same way with and without the ball is not easy when you don’t have that continuity, that regular understanding and relationships.

“But we are trying our best.

“We gave it everything we had and it was difficult at times.

“We missed an awful lot of players.

“We are getting them back and I think you can see how exciting it could be.”

Steele looks set to start the Premier League season in goal and is looking forward to a home run out versus Villarreal.

He said: “Hopefully we can show a little more and keep improving.”