‘I had butterflies’ – Fitzwater delighted with Bilic impact after making West Brom debut
Jack Fitzwater impressed as he made his debut for West Brom on Sunday in the 1-0 win against Charlton at The Valley.
Albion set themselves up with an FA Cup fourth-round clash against West Ham later this month thanks to Kenneth Zohore’s first-half goal in the capital.
Slaven Bilic made 11 changes to his team ahead of the clash with Charlton and one of those changes saw Fitzwater, 22, come into the side to make his Baggies debut.
Fitzwater has spent his entire career at West Brom and has been a mainstay of their Under-23s side in recent years as well as having various loan spells away from the club.
It was great to finally see him strut his stuff in the first-team at the weekend and he definitely put in a good shift as Albion secured a clean sheet and a win.
“On Saturday in training (I found out I was starting),” the centre-back said, as quoted by the Express & Star.
“The gaffer gave me a bib and said I was starting at centre-half.
“Ever since that I have been smiling, all the way through Saturday night.
“I had butterflies in bed, I just couldn’t wait to play. It was a really great day, I’m really glad we got a clean sheet as well and won the game 1-0.
“I’m just really thankful to the gaffer for putting his trust in me to start in a game like that and in a competition like the FA Cup.
“It was really good. I enjoyed every minute of it. I was smiling to myself all the way through. I was really happy.”
Fitzwater has certainly waited a long time to make his senior debut for West Brom but he should not hold his breath over making a second appearance any time soon.
Bilic is bound to want to win against his former club West Ham later this month so it is likely that a more familiar back-line will line up at the London Stadium.
Kyle Bartley, Ahmed Hegazi, Semi Ajayi and Dara O’Shea all seem to be ahead of Fitzwater in the pecking order.
If the 22-year-old wants to keep on impressing then he might have to hope that injuries and suspensions will work in his favour.
In other West Brom news, Albion are eyeing up this £2million-valued midfielder.