Athletic journo names never-before-seen WBA starlet that left senior duo ‘wowed’ in training
Experienced West Brom duo Charlie Austin and Chris Brunt were left “wowed” by the performance of teenage sensation Rico Richards during a training game back in January, according to The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley.
The 16-year-old put pen to paper on his first ever professional deal at The Hawthorns on Tuesday, rejecting a number of rivals to commit his future to the club.
Prior to signing that contract, however, the starlet has been involved in the first team training picture, and has soundly impressed his more senior teammates.
Writing in a piece for The Athletic, Madeley said: “In the first week of January, Slaven Bilic held a training game between two XIs made up mainly of first-team squad members.
“But playing up front for one of the sides, alongside Premier League veteran Charlie Austin, was a 16-year-old whom most of the first-teamers present had never seen before.
“That afternoon, Austin and Chris Brunt told staff at Albion’s training ground that they had been wowed by the performance of the teenager — Rico Richards.”
Tying Richards down feels like a very positive move for West Brom.
The Baggies have lost a number of exciting young prospects over the past few years, with Louie Barry departing for Barcelona and Morgan Rogers leaving for Manchester City last summer as two recent examples.
Another high profile academy exit would have been a real blow for Albion, but now they can focus their attentions on developing a path to the first team for Richards.
The teenager has already been training regularly with the first team, and while Madeley admits that the prospect of regular Premier League football is still a little way off, there’s nothing to suggest that he won’t be able to make his senior bow for the Baggies at some point in the relatively near future.
In other West Brom news, Albion want to sign this £18million-rated English striker.
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