John Percy: Caleb Taylor is latest West Brom academy graduate to shine behind the scenes
Caleb Taylor to be one of the most promising prospects for West Brom fans to be excited about after becoming an academy graduate, according to Telegraph journalist John Percy.
Taylor, who has already made five first-team appearances at the Hawthorns, spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Cheltenham Town, making 42 League One starts for the Robins as the club steered nine points clear of the relegation zone.
During many years at the club, Taylor has played on 68 occasions across the U18s and U21s teams and has been trusted five times to appear for the senior team, twice under Carlos Corberan.
“There are high hopes for Caleb Taylor, the 20-year-old son of former Birmingham defender Martin and the latest academy graduate,” Percy wrote for The Telegraph on 29 November.
If they’re good enough, they’re old enough
With one to two injuries, West Brom’s defensive situation could become rather bleak. And Semi Ajayi’s departure to the African Cup of Nations in January adds yet another layer to an already potentially fatal crisis.
Taylor has proven himself at League One level with Cheltenham, and his 90-minute performance against Stoke City in the EFL Cup in August was evidence of his maturity and readiness for a proper chance at senior level.
In the 2-1 defeat to Stoke in August, the young centre-back was deployed in a back three with Kyle Bartley and Erik Pieters, finishing the match as the only one not to receive a yellow card.
As West Brom’s defenders continue to age, and potential transfers or international tournaments crop up, Corberan will need experienced players to fall back on. Taylor should be far more involved at the first-team level, rather than just showing his talents in training each week.
Without the integration of one of the Baggies’ biggest prospects, a single injury or transfer could become far more serious, with money normally needing to be spent to plug gaps or paper over the cracks.
In other West Brom news, the boss has issued an injury update on Jed Wallace.