Kevin Phillips reacts as West Brom allow Harry Williams to join Burnley on trial
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 is stunned by West Brom after they decided to let rising star Harry Williams leave the club.
According to Football Insider, the 18-year-old defender has headed to Premier League rivals Burnley after Albion granted him permission to have a trial at Turf Moor.
It is understood the Black Country club, who are trying to close down 17th-placed Burnely to avoid relegation to the Championship, have already decided they’re going to release Williams.
Ex-Baggies striker Phillips is slightly baffled by the news because he cannot see why the club would release a player and let him run straight into the arms of another top-flight team.
But, Phillips refuses to question Sam Allardyce’s judgement.
“At the end of the day, we’re only giving our opinion but Sam will be working with these players day in, day out. Only he can make that call, make that judgement,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“It’s always surprising when you see a club are going to release a player or tell them to move on and then they’re being linked with Premier League clubs. You kind of think, ‘well why are you not keeping him and using him?’.
“There’ll be a reason behind it but it’s always a slight surprise because you think if they do go down, you want the young players to try and come through and help them get back next season.”
Williams hasn’t played for West Brom’s Under-23s side since March in what was ironically a 3-1 defeat to Burnley in Premier League 2.
He’s since turned out for the Clarets’ Under-23s, playing in their 2-0 win away against Reading’s Under-23s.
There’s no doubt that Williams did himself a lot of favours by helping keep a clean sheet in that game.
In his five Premier League 2 appearances for the Albion this season, Williams was unable to help the Midlanders keep a single clean sheet and was part of a defence that conceded five to Reading in February.
In other West Brom news, John Percy has shared a big update on the potential Albion takeover.
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