West Brom boss busy learning about squad players pushing for more action

Several of Albion's squad players, some of which were recruits last summer, have failed to make an impression as a regular in the side this term.

The Baggies, who welcome Portsmouth today in Mowbray's first home game in charge, lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough on Tuesday and the head coach admitted a lot of training on Thursday consisted of working with players uninvolved at Boro.

Mowbray namechecked left-back Gianluca Frabotta, central midfield pair Ousmane Diakite and Uros Racic and striker Devante Cole when stressing he had catching up to do on his squad players so he knows who he can turn to.

"You do it all the time, but I have literally been on the grass twice," Mowbray said when asked about assessing his squad. "So it's difficult to see what we need.

"The players who haven't played, I've been watching videos of Diakite and Racic. I'm trying to learn about the players I've only seen on the grass here. The left-back, Frabotta...I'm trying to find out if I'm turning around and I want to make a change - who am I putting on?

"It's daft if I'm putting on a central midfielder player but I've no idea in my mind what he does, for me to say on you go. We have to win. I can't put him on and bring him off."

Italian Frabotta, 25, has made just seven appearances for the Baggies since checking in from Juventus, six as a substitute with no Championship starts.

Loan midfielder Racic failed to impress during a more regular run in the side under Carlos Corberan. The Serbian has been linked to a move to Portuguese club Famalicao from Italian parent outfit Sassuolo.

It took Malian midfielder Diakite, 24, until December 29 for a second league start and he went on to catch the eye over the turn of the new year.

"I need to watch and see, that's what I'm trying to do on an evening, watch clips from these players from the season," Mowbray added.

"I want this team to be exciting, to create chances, to get the supporters off their feet, but yes to be strong at the back. To be a winning machine, is what we're trying to build and put together."

Former Barnsley striker Cole, 29, has not started in the Championship all season. Twelve substitute appearances have totalled just 122 minutes.

"There probably will be one or two changes, but that's quite natural in a three-game week," Mowbray added. "It gives me an opportunity to see some players who are champing at the bit and who believe they should be playing.

"Devante Cole has got to come to the party at some point. He probably hasn't had as much opportunity, but when it comes - you have to grab it. How many chances do you get if you don't have a shot or score a goal. I can't keep giving chances, you have to grab a chance whether it's from the bench or from the start."

He said: "If it's for 15-20 minutes, have a shot, get on the ball, get in the box, let us feel like you're a goal threat. Don't work so hard out wide all the time, getting it and passing it back - then you're never on the end of anything in the box. To all the strikers, it's the same message - I have to feel your menace, your threat.

"You're always there. I want to you to work hard but don't do everything outside the box."