Jed Wallace in awe of West Brom teammate Dara O’Shea, admits he looks up to potential ‘club legend’ four years his junior
West Brom forward Jed Wallace has backed club captain Dara O’Shea to become a legend at The Hawthorns.
The 24-year-old fan favourite has proven a pivotal component for Carlos Corberan and the Baggies this season, playing every one of the club’s 35 Championship games this season – only one of two players in the Championship to do so.
Regular and consistent displays have taken O’Shea beyond the 100-appearance mark for the club he joined as a teenager back in 2015, and Wallace praised the defender’s leadership.
Speaking to Express & Star [24 March], he said: “Dara has really grown into the role of captain and I think you forget how young he is. He’s only 24 and a top, top player.
“To play every minute of a season in the Championship is not easy and he’s done that. He’s definitely someone I look up to.
“We’ve got some great young lads here at the club and they’re all well thought of in the dressing room and it’s important that you have a young group of players that the fans can relate to,” he said.
“They’ll be the future of the club. Look at Dara. He’s probably got another 12 or 13 years of professional football ahead of him. In my opinion, he could go down as a club legend.”
Pivotal
There’s no denying O’Shea’s popularity and importance within the West Brom camp during this campaign, and the 24-year-old will have endeared himself even further to the Baggies fans after being pictured on 9 March buying a classic Albion shirt in the Birmingham shopping centre.
The defender has been a hugely important figure for the club since his emergence from the academy setup and is well on his way to becoming a club icon for his consistent performances at the heart of the Baggies back-line this season.
Considering his form this season, the defender may well attract some transfer interest in the summer, especially if the club don’t secure their return to the Premier League next season. However, it’s highly likely that O’Shea will opt to stay considering his love and loyalty to the club which gave him his chance.
If he does that, he’s certainly well on his way to placing himself in Baggies folklore. Wallace is spot on, O’Shea is indeed a top, top player.
In other West Brom news, the Albion would love to re-sign their £6m former player but would need to secure promotion to the Premier League to do so