LIAM Dickinson is not fretting about the wait for his first Albion goal.

The summer signing from Derby narrowly failed to break his duck in Saturday’s opening 1-0 home defeat by Walsall after a blank pre-season.

Dickinson said: “It plays on the mind of some strikers but not me. The season before last at Stockport I scored in the first two games and then not until Christmas but ended up scoring 21.

“It is not in my head. When I score I score. I am going to work hard for the team and if I score or create one it’s a bonus.”

Dickinson, off target since a Championship double on loan to Blackpool last December, almost cancelled out Andrew Whing’s decisive own goal against Walsall from long range before he was substituted late on.

“I am getting there,” he said. “I felt fitter and I was a bit disappointed to be taken off.

“I still felt I had a bit in my locker to give to the game but I have got to respect the manager’s decision. He brought Glenn Murray on and he is a great player who can score goals.”

Manager Russell Slade said: “Since Liam has been here I have seen improvement every week. He is getting fitter, stronger and more confident.

“I thought he was a handful for them. His goal record stands up and when he starts finding the net once or twice I think it will do him a world of good.”

Slade’s new-look team struggled in the first half but improved in the second half after Nicky Forster came on in place of midfielder Matt Thornhill to partner Dickinson.

Slade said: “It's a bit frustrating. You want to get off to a good start and we've not got that, but there is an awful lot of football to be played.

“There are a lot of people finding their feet. There were one or two communication problems at times and you are going to get that. I would certainly much rather have my squad than the Walsall squad."

Gary Hart will be missing again at Swansea tomorrow night in the Carling Cup. The wound from the removal of a toe cyst has split back open and the long-serving striker must now wait for it to heal.

Dickinson said: “I played Swansea last season when I was on loan to Blackpool and they are a great passing team. It is going to be a very tough game for us.”