Kevin Phillips discusses future of youngsters at West Brom
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 claims West Brom could choose to move young players on at an early stage in pre-season training this summer.
Albion have a number of impressive youngsters at the club while there have also been some out on loan during the course of this season.
Alex Palmer, Joshua Griffiths, Finn Azaz, Rekeem Harper and Callum Morton are among the young players who’ve been out on loan in the EFL this season who are expected to return to The Hawthorns in the summer.
If Sam Allardyce stays in charge at West Brom, Phillips claims the manager will have a good idea on who he wants to keep and who he wants to get rid of early on in the pre-season process.
Speaking to West Brom News, Phillips said: “Next season is a big season for everyone in the Championship. Everyone will get an opportunity.
“Sam will have his own ideas on who he wants to keep and who he wants to move on but young players will definitely be looked at early in the pre-season because then you’ve still got time to move them on and do whatever you want.
“I’d like to think that every young kid who’s been out on loan or in the first team will have an opportunity at the start of pre-season.”
West Brom’s squad for next season is currently looking very bare with a number of players reaching the end of their contracts at The Hawthorns while loanees will also be returning to their parent clubs.
With Guochuan Lai failing to invest in the Albion, it is likely that whoever is in charge next term will have to look at the club’s academy to boost the numbers in the first-team squad.
Several youngsters like Palmer, Griffiths, Azaz and Morton have done well out on loan this season while there are some academy graduates like Rekeem Harper and Kyle Edwards, who has spent the season in the Premier League with the Baggies, who have struggled.
In other West Brom news, this 23-year-old could be released by Albion next month with a Championship move on the cards.
Be sure to follow West Brom News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Baggies and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Phillips.