Joe Ellis

Fri 7 January 2022 12:10, UK

West Brom manager Valerien Ismael has offered an insight into the future playing time of homegrown midfielder Taylor Gardner-Hickman.

The 20-year-old signed a fresh new deal at the Hawthorns last week and with his whereabouts settled for the immediate future, he now wants to break into the Baggies’ starting 11.

He is benefitted from his utility in playing as a central midfielder or as a wing-back on both flanks of the pitch.

“If he continues to progress and to show his quality he will get his chance,” Ismael was quoted as saying in the Express and Star.

“Taylor has a lot of our principles. He is dynamic, he has the right mentality, he is fearless and he listens.

“I think those are his strengths and we have seen them in the games he has played – he always has an impact on the game.

“He is flexible for us, he can play two positions – at wing-back and in the six-position, he is a big assist for the club.

“It is very important to give him a long-term contract and for the club to keep our good young players rather than see them leave for other clubs.”

New Blood Needs Games

West Brom does better than most Championship clubs when it comes to giving their own youth prospects a chance.

Gardner-Hickman is just one example of an academy star at the club who has gone on to make appearances for the first team.

The long and proud history Baggies have enjoyed with their youth setup means with every new academy star that emerges, fans get excited.

There’s no difference with Gardner-Hickman whose appearances for the club so far, whether from the start or off the bench, have impressed Ismael greatly.

Now though, Gardner-Hickman needs to go to another level and make himself undroppable for the Frenchman.

West Brom’s stuttering form should give him the opportunity to do so given his consistent performances so far and if the Baggies can start winning again, he might be the key to maintaining it.

In other West Brom news, this Baggies star may have played his last game for the club.