Friendship on hold for cult-hero Horsfield

"It was an important spell for me in my career because when I turned professional I went straight from Halifax and I was flying with confidence.

"We had a great side full of experience with Philippe Albert, Peter Beardsley and Kit Symons. It was a fantastic time which I really enjoyed.

"When Jean Tigana came in he decided he didn't really want me, so it was best for both parties for me to move on. I have no regrets because I enjoyed my time at Birmingham, while Fulham built a new side and replaced me with Louis Saha who scored 30 goals that season - he was a great buy for them."

Although it was a case of chalk and fromage with Tigana, you get the impression that Horsfield would be more at home in Coleman's squad, where the bulldog spirit - through players such as Lee Clark, Ian Pearce and Mark Pembridge - runs much stronger.

Indeed, Coleman and Horsfield remain close having been team-mates at Craven Cottage.

Horsfield said: "Chris Coleman has done a great job at Fulham. Unfortunately he had to stop playing due to a bad car crash but he's come through that.

"He was a fantastic player in the changing room and he's taken those leadership qualities into management. He's a great friend of mine and I'm glad to see he's doing really well. You could always tell he was going to be a manager.

"He's built a hard-working side. They've got plenty of drive and enthusiasm and some quality players in Andy Cole and Luis Boa Morte. They're a professional set-up and have gone from strength to strength."

After leaving Birmingham, Horsfield had a short spell at Wigan before joining West Brom for £1m last December. He played a key role in their promotion-winning side, but has not scored this season as his side have struggled to adapt to the Premiership.

With manager Gary Megson's future in serious doubt and an alleged player bust-up on the team coach after last week's defeat by Liverpool, things are already looking bleak for the Baggies.

But Horsfield said: "Everyone is going to say we're going to struggle because we're in the bottom three, but as soon as we get that first win, start playing as well as we can and stop making defensive mistakes we should be all right. That first win could push us up to around 10th place so it is important.

"You don't really want draws in this league unless you're playing away at the top teams. It's nice to work hard for the team but strikers are judged on scoring goals."