West Bromwich Albion striker Simon Cox is happy he stayed this season.

Cox had the chance to leave Albion in January.

"I didn't fancy going on loan because at the time I was still on the bench and I was coming on every now and then," Cox told the Albion website.

"And then my Ireland boss told me to stick around as they didn't need for me to go anywhere to be selected. Premier League football is what you want to be playing and throughout January I was playing.

"It was a lot tougher this year to get games.

"I had to be patient and stick around because you never know what's going to happen in football.

"Fitness-wise we run after games anyway but I asked if there was a bit extra I could do so I would be ready for the tournament if selected."