West Brom: Academy stars inspired after ‘fantastic’ Carlos Corberan gesture
Carlos Corberan has inspired West Brom Academy stars after the boss included several of Albion’s young players in his FA Cup squads this season.
Fenton Heard, Akeel Higgins, Layton Love, Hary Whitwell and Josh Shaw have all been involved with the first team this season, while several more have been exposed to first-team football.
Academy boss Richard Beale explained what a boost that has provided to the youngsters, but urged them to remain focused and keep pushing forward on and off the pitch to make the most of the chance.
Speaking to Birmingham Live [26 March], Beale explained: “It was fantastic for those lads to be in and around it but they’ve got to want more and I know they want more.
“They have to keep striving, fighting and scrapping because having a fleeting appearance in the FA Cup – there are thousands of those players.
“There are not many that go on to have a career with 100 or 200 appearances in the first team. The boys know that they want that, and they are working hard at that.
“The biggest difference is those that are consistent in their behaviours every single day. They are on time, running as hard as they can, working hard on and off the pitch.
“For the ones at this age, who have gone all the way through the system, I’d say 90% is because they don’t do, or can’t repeat, those good behaviours every single day to the top of their level and keep the stamina and motivation to hang around and do the right things to get your chance in the first team.”
Carlos Corberan helping West Brom wonders thrive
Corberan has been extremely vocal in his support for the young players at the club, encouraging them to take the step up to senior football both through his words and his actions with several involved with the first team at times.
Tom Fellows has set the standard for all young players looking to progress through the ranks at The Hawthorns by earning an England under-20 call-up thanks to his performances under Corberan’s guidance this season.
The academy players at West Brom have received plenty of encouragement lately at all levels, with Beale joining Corberan in his assessment that the players could be set to take a step up into first-team football.
Any player in the West Brom Academy who was looking to find their way into the first team in the coming months, even years, will have been inspired by the manager’s comment with a clear pathway becoming evident at The Hawthorns.
In other West Brom news, Beale was wowed by his meeting with Shilen Patel.
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