What James Morrison did with Cole Deeming vs Sheffield Wednesday will have West Brom fans dreaming

West Bromwich Albion opened their pre-season account with a win on Saturday.

Taking on Sheffield Wednesday at St. George's Park, the Baggies got off to the perfect start with a 3-0 triumph.

Krystian Bielik would open the scoring with a header, before goals from new man Jimmy-Jay Morgan and Alex Mowatt completed the comfortable win.

Albion now prepare to head to Portugal for the next section of their pre-season preparations.

James Morrison would use two sides on the day, rotating between the first and second half.

But what was done with youngster Cole Deeming will have Baggies fans wondering about what is to come for the 19-year-old.

Cole Deeming the man of the moment as West Brom open pre-season account

A product of the West Brom academy, Deeming made his professional debut for the club against Fleetwood in the EFL Cup last year.

After spending the second half of last season on loan at League Two Cheltenham, he returns to The Hawthorns in search of further first team action after making 17 league appearances.

And on Saturday, pre-season could not have started better for the youngster.

Starting as part of the first-half XI, deeming played his part in the opening goal, as his short-corner routine helped set up Bielik, who headed home inside the box.

Starting in the middle of the park, Deeming would last 60 minutes - the only of two Baggies player to do so, as he and Souleyman Mandey were replaced by Jayson Molumby and Isaac Price.

Austrian youngster Mandey is also highly rated at the club, but is behind Deeming in his development, having only made one appearance at professional level.

For Deeming, fans will be wondering what comes next, after spending half a season out on loan in the EFL.

Having represented the club since 2013, there is a clear emotional reward staring at everyone involved - fans included - if his journey to the first team is managed correctly.

What must James Morrison do ahead of 2026-27 season start?

After a strong end to the campaign, Morrison proved that there is a strong group in place at The Hawthorns - one misguided for large periods of last term.

With this in mind, there is also a core of youngsters coming through that need nurturing, and Deeming is a part of this.

He failed to feature just three times for Cheltenham, but he did register just 485 minutes.

This summer, Morrison must take the chance to assess the youngsters, after having to lean on experience and common sense in the survival battle last term.

Deeming and others may be ready, they may be not.

But importantly, the manager has time to assess and make these decisions, potentially sorting out loans, or immediate paths to the first team.

For a boyhood Baggies fan in Deeming though, fans will certainly be willing him on after Saturday's glimpse.