Joe Wallis 'Shocked' after new West Brom transfer admission
Joe Wallis was "shocked" when he learned earlier this year about the opportunity to trial at West Brom and other interested clubs.
The Kiwi had other options on the table but decided to join the Baggies as they offered him a contract after his performances in an Under-18s and Under-21s game in pre-season.
Speaking on the club's official website [4 November], the young shot-stopper outlined how his move to The Hawthorns panned out.
"I was sitting on my bed in Samoa with the U20 New Zealand team - we were doing our OFC qualifiers there - when I got a phone call from my old goalkeeper coach about some interest in me from a few clubs in the UK," he said.
"He said the agent had sorted a few things out for me to go over and trial and asked if I wanted to go. I was shocked, but I got off my bed, rang my mum and dad and said I could go and trial for some clubs which, at the time, I didn't know who they were.
"But me and my family decided to go for it and found out West Brom was the main club that was interested. So I got back from the qualifiers, packed my stuff, flew to the UK - literally 30 hours worth of travel - got settled in with a host family for my trial and it went well."
Joe Wallis could be a future asset for West Brom
Wallis signed a two-year deal at West Brom in September and is playing for the development squad this season.
The 19-year-old's leadership qualities have already been on show as he captained West Brom's Under-21 side against Chelsea in a Development League fixture.
Carlos Corberan has relied on Alex Palmer, who has come in for criticism of late, in the first-team setup, with the 28-year-old starting in every game for the Baggies in the Championship in the current campaign.
The Spanish manager also has Joe Wildsmith and Ted Cann at his disposal, with the former shot-stopper featuring in the 2-1 loss to Fleetwood in the first round of the Carabao Cup on 13 August.
Corberan has shown that he's not afraid of counting on the youngsters, with Tom Fellows an essential player for West Brom over the past year.
The youth side will take on Dagenham & Redbridge in the National League Cup on 5 November, and it will be interesting to see whether Willis will get an opportunity to showcase his talent on a larger scale.
In other West Brom news, Carlos Corberan could request a new striker signing after a new Daryl Dike update at The Hawthorns.