West Brom sent one last reminder of Reyes Cleary ability after U18s brace
Steve Bruce and the West Brom senior squad may have already put their feet up for the off-season but not all is done for Albion.
Peter Gilbert’s Under-18s side had one last task to undertake and they did so in emphatic style as they dismantled Reading’s youngsters 4-0 to end the Under-18 Premier League South season in 10th place.
Layton Love scored the last goal of the season and Samuel Oluwatobi also got his name on the scoresheet but it was a familiar face who stole the limelight once again.
It was 18-year-old Reyes Cleary who added to his highly impressive goal tally for the season with a brace to get things rolling on Monday afternoon (9 May) and he even added an assist too for Oluwatobi’s goal.
That takes the teenager’s total goal tally to 31 in competitive games this season with 18 in 13 for the Under-18s in the league and a further seven for the Under-23s too.
He also has four goals in five matches in the Premier League Cup and a solitary goal in the FA Youth Cup as he has proven to dominate the academy leagues all campaign long.
Despite these remarkable statistics, neither Bruce nor previous manager Valerien Ismael have given him his debut and he could well leave the club if he isn’t getting the chances he deserves.
This was the final reminder Bruce will get this season that he has one of the country’s most prolific young strikers at his disposal should he choose to use him and he has to start taking notice next season.
With Andy Carroll leaving The Hawthorns in the summer and others not performing as they should be, there is no reason why Cleary won’t at least be involved in pre-season and if he isn’t to be given a chance n the Midlands, he absolutely must be loaned out as a last resort.
In other West Brom news, this player dubbed the “Championship Zidane” needs to be brought back into the fold next season.
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