West Brom winger Thomas still counting on Arsenal legend Henry influence

West Bromwich Albion winger Jerome Thomas admits former teammate Thierry Henry still has a big influence on him.

The West Brom winger wears the number 14 shirt at West Brom as a tribute to the French star he watched in training when he was starting his career as a kid at Arsenal.

Now he’s just happy to be playing – after years ­ruined by a serious spine injury.

Thomas, 27, plays at Blackpool tomorrow night in the middle of the best run of top-flight games he’s enjoyed since he was at Charlton back in 2007.

He said: “I think in life in general you have to learn from mistakes you make, use it as a learning curve to become a better person.

“Being out for a season while I was at Portsmouth was a reality check. Since then I’ve tried to take every season as if it was my last. I know how fantastic it is to be able to play in the ­Premier League.”

 
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