Kevin Phillips wants West Brom to hand young players more opportunities
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips wants to see West Brom hand young players more first-team opportunities next season but admits that could be down to who’s in charge.
Sam Allardyce seems as though he could be stepping down as Baggies boss if the Black Country club is relegated this season [Football Insider].
It leaves a lot of doubt surrounding what direction Albion will head in if they do suffer an expected return to the Championship, especially as so many current players are set to leave with contracts and loan deals expiring.
One player whose contract is ticking away is Hal Robson-Kanu.
The Welsh forward hasn’t started a single Premier League match for West Brom this season and will celebrate his 32nd birthday in May.
With young striker Callum Morton doing well out on loan at Lincoln with two goals in his last six League One appearances, Phillips admits he’d rather see players like him get a chance.
However, the ex-Albion striker hasn’t ruled out a new deal for Robson-Kanu.
“It just depends on who’s in charge,” Phillips told West Brom News when asked if Morton could break into the first-team next season.
“I’d like to see the youngsters be given a chance. They’ve gone out on loan, are doing well, get them back and let them have a go. You’ll know pretty quickly whether they can play at that level.
“Hal’s a good player.
“Will he be offered another contract? He might be offered a year or he might be offered a little bit longer than that. But I would certainly like to see one of the youngsters be given an opportunity.
“Hopefully, someone comes in and will do that.”
Morton has missed a big chunk of this season while on loan at Lincoln.
On March 2, he came off the bench and scored for the Imps in their 2-1 defeat to Fleetwood as he marked his return from a five-month absence with a “freak” pectoral injury that required surgery.
Goalkeeper Alex Palmer, who’s on loan with Morton at Lincoln, assisted that goal while West Brom have other youngsters dotted around the EFL like Rekeem Harper, Rayhaan Tulloch, Josh Griffiths and Finn Azaz.
In other West Brom news, Albion have set their sights on this 24-year-old goalkeeper who made two stunning saves for his country this week.
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