West Bromwich Albion striker Roman Bednar has said he would love to stay with the Baggies and has enjoyed Championship football since joining on loan from Hearts.

Bednar, 24, has scored seven goals this season and hopes that West Brom's charge for promotion to the Premier League will help him gain more caps for the Czech Republic.

"I would love to stay - but I am not ready to sort out my future at present," he said. "I want to play as well as possible and keep my options open. I believe, however, that I will settle down at some point.

"I have not enjoyed football like this for some time: it is a joy to play here.

"It was not a great start. I arrived injured; then I scored six goals in six games for the reserves and was picked on the bench a few times. Our strikers Ishmael Miller and Kevin Phillips picked up injuries and the coach, although he did not want to, put me on the pitch.

"I scored two goals and since that time things have been going well."

Bednar has only featured for his country on one occasion, during a friendly with Serbia in 2006.

"I would like to return to the national team - and I need to score goals to fulfil that wish," he added. "If I keep scoring then I believe I will manage that."

The player said that he is sorry to see Hearts struggling second from bottom in the SPL, but not surprised. "I knew before the season started that they would be in the position where they are now.

"That is why I agreed to come here on conditions which were not ideal. I came here to play football and that has turned out well for me.

"There is a lack of trust in one another at Hearts and that is bad. The lads are not happy there.

"On the other hand, at West Brom, they treat me frankly and would put their hand into a fire for me."

Vasek Kadlec / Eurosport