Kevin Phillips wants Reyes Cleary to get first taste of senior football in West Brom v Reading
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 young forward Reyes Cleary to get a chance in the West Brom first-team after his hat-trick for the Under-23s earlier this week.
Cleary, 17, doubled his tally of Premier League 2 goals this season with a treble in Albion’s 3-2 win over Middlesbrough’s Under-23s on Monday [6 December].
He’s yet to be called up to Valerien Ismael’s senior side despite scoring goals for fun for the Under-23s and Under-18s but has attracted attention from top-flight clubs in England and in Europe, including Bayern Munich [Daily Mail].
Albion are said to be readying a new deal for the teenage goal machine and Phillips feels there are plenty of advantages for Ismael to call him up to the first team when his side play Reading at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
When asked if it’s time for a promotion, Phillips told West Brom News: “Yes, I would say so.
“We speak every week about finding that player who can score goals for West Brom and it’s clear they have someone in their ranks who’s finding the back of the net regularly.
“Of course, a step up to the Championship is a big jump but the kid has shown in the Under-23s that he can score goals.
“With their recent goalscoring problems, it might be the right time of the year to get him into the first-team, give him a taste of it, fend off some of the teams interested and convince Cleary that he’s got a future at the club.
“With fixtures now coming thick and fast over the Christmas period, it might be an ideal opportunity to get him in there and give him a taste of it, which would be great.”
Cleary has six goals in eight Premier League 2 matches for Albion’s Under-23s this season.
He’s been promoted to Deon Burton’s side after finding it way too easy in the Under-18s Premier League, where he’s scored 10 goals in six matches this term.
In other West Brom news, Phillips wants Albion to sign this available Arsenal player in January.
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.