Skipper Jonathan Greening believes it is vital West Brom striker Kevin Phillips signs a new contract.

And Greening insists Phillips can have as big an impact in his latter years as Teddy Sheringham.

Phillips has played a major part in helping Albion make virtually sure of reclaiming their place in the Barclays Premier League after a two-year absence with 24 goals this season.

The 34-year-old is out of contract this summer although the Baggies are adamant talks are still ongoing.

But Greening believes the contribution of Phillips off the pitch is equally as important in the same way as Sheringham has been highly respected everywhere he has played because of his knowledge and experience.

The former Manchester United midfielder said: "It will be massive to keep Kevin Phillips. He has scored so many goals for us this year - but it is not just that which is important.

"It is his aura around the place. He is one of the jokers of the place, one of the lads who brings the team spirit together.

"Kevin is still as fit as a fiddle, has no fat on him whatsoever, still at the top of the running so the age (34) is not a concern.

"Hopefully the chairman (Jeremy Peace) will sit down with him and sort out a new deal sooner rather than later and Kevin can have a good summer and prepare for next year."

Greening added: "You only have to look at Teddy Sheringham and the impact he has made. He played at West Ham in the Premier League until he was 38-39.

"He had a great soccer brain and Kevin has the know-how up top which will definitely help us in the Premier League.

"He is one of those players like Teddy who drops in and holds the ball up well for us and you need that in the top division and I am sure the gaffer will be desperate to keep him."

Greening feels fellow midfielder Zoltan Gera, whose current deal ends in the summer, should also be persuaded to stay after a telling contribution to the Baggies campaign.

He said: "Zoltan has been on fire for us as well and, fingers crossed, he will be staying as well. He has said if we get in the Premier League, he'd like to stay and all the boys want him to stay.

"We love him. He is one of the main characters in the dressing room so hopefully he can get it sorted with the chairman and stay because we don't want him to go at all."

Greening wants Albion to finish off the season in style by winning the Coca-Cola Championship to further silence the doubters who questioned whether their attacking style of football would bear fruit.

He said: "I was a bit gobsmacked when I was named captain. I was surprised more than anyone but if I can lift a trophy it would cap off a great year.

"Now we all want to finish top of the league especially as people have been saying we won't get promoted with the way we play. It would be nice to finish as champions and show you can get out of the league playing the way we play.

"I think if you ask any neutral who has watched our games, I am sure they would say they enjoy the way we play.

"We have scored more than 100 goals in all competitions and it would be great for the gaffer, myself as captain and the whole squad to go up as champions."

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