Ollie Bostock ready to take West Brom after pre-season developments
West Brom youngster Ollie Bostock is getting used to the “great experience” of training and playing with the club’s first team this summer.
In an interview with the club’s official website (18 July), Bostock said that he and fellow youngster Cole Deeming were looking to reap the benefits of taking part in first-team sessions at St. George’s Park.
Bostock, 17, played in the Baggies’ opening pre-season friendly against Bolton Wanderers at the National Football Centre, having signed his first professional contract with the club on 19 March [Club Website].
He said: “Being here and training with the senior side is only going to make us better players, which is great.
“The quality of sessions is a lot higher than what you’re used to, but this is the first team and it’s going to be like that.
“It was a great experience for me to play against Bolton. When you’re in it, it just feels like a normal game of football but the standard is obviously a lot higher and you just want to do as well as possible.”
Ollie Bostock could get first-team chance amid West Brom rebuild
As Corberan leads a significant overhaul of his squad at The Hawthorns this summer, few areas will undergo more change than the wide positions.
On the flanks, Matt Phillips and Adam Reach have already both left the Baggies upon the expiry of their contracts, while enigmatic Celtic loanee Mikey Johnston returned to his parent club at season’s end.
While Johnston is a player Corberan would love to bring back this summer, failing to do so may open the door for a player like Bostock to be given a first-team chance, particularly given the existing options.
That’s not a suggestion that like Tom Fellows and Modou Faal aren’t up to the job – instead, both players are successful Albion academy graduates and could lay the path for another to make a breakthrough.
At just 17, next season may be too early for Bostock to be given his opportunity, let alone seize it, but his involvement in this summer’s pre-season suggests he’s certainly a player to keep an eye on.
In other West Brom news, Michael Hefele released a statement after his exit from The Hawthorns was confirmed.
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