ISHMAEL Miller is hoping to out-gun one of the strikers that has inspired him in his short career when he goes head-to-head with former Baggie Nathan Ellington in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Watford (ko 5.20pm).

It will be the first time the Hornets hitman has returned to The Hawthorns since his £4.25million summer departure to Vicarage Road.

And 16-goal Miller believes Ellington still poses the same threat that saw him net 24 times to scoop the Championship's golden boot and fire Wigan to promotion in 2004/05, even though he only has five strikes to his name this term.

"Nathan is a good player," said Miller.

"He's someone I watched and admired when he played for Wigan and then when he came to Albion in the Premier League.

"He can score goals and he will be a real danger for us.

"We need to keep him quiet so we can get the result we need.

"You always look at players you can learn from and try to develop things from their game which can improve your own.

"Nathan was one of those - he's a good finisher, a good player and a professional I respect."

Miller is aiming to smash the 20-goal barrier for the first time in his career in Albion's five-match Championship run-in.

And the giant Baggies hotshot, who scored in November's 3-0 victory at Vicarage Road, ended a five-game barren spell with the third in Tuesday's 3-1 win at Blackpool.

"I'm getting closer to 20 goals," he added.

"It's my first full season as a striker so it would be nice to get 20 and maybe even push on and get near to 25.

"Saturday should be a tough game.

"They're very athletic and have a lot of power and strength from set-plays.

"We need to be at our best to get all three points."

The Baggies left it late to beat the Seasiders on Tuesday, with three goals in the final nine minutes.

But Miller insisted the happy knack of winning even when your team is below par is not a bad thing to have in your locker at this crucial stage of the season.

"We pushed on in the last six minutes and our plan was to just keep grinding them down," he said.

"It was important to win as it always is when you've just lost a game.

"Obviously if we'd lost on Tuesday people would have said there was a hangover from Saturday, so it was important to win.

"Our squad and team showed the togetherness and spirit we've got.

"It showed we can get results even when we don't play well.

"We needed the three points and we were desperate for them." 

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