Tony Mowbray's clarifies transfer stance after West Brom decision

The 22-year-old central defender was granted a return to loan club Wycombe this week having been back at The Hawthorns this month with the expectation he was going to play.

But Taylor's only action since his recall at the beginning of January was a start in the heavily rotated FA Cup at Bournemouth and Mowbray admitted, with other defenders returning to fitness, chances could be few and far between.

"His impression was that he was brought back to play and that wasn't the case, or it hasn't played out like that," admitted Mowbray.

"I said I had every intention to put him on until we got an injury last week.

"Big Kyle has now been training the last three days and so has big Semi, even though I think he's 10 days or a fortnight away. Kyle will be travelling with the squad (to Plymouth) and be involved at the weekend.

"I didn't want the kid to be the odd one out. You don't need to put centre-backs on the bench, you'd rather put a young striker or winger from the under-21s on the bench rather than two or three central defenders.

"I could see a scenario when he could be behind Bartley or Ajayi, my opinion was he should probably go to play some football between now and the summer and come back in pre-season. I don't know at this moment what is going to happen contractually with some senior players, but he can come back, play in pre-season, let me get some confidence and belief."

Mowbray is not ready to potentially put the club's play-off tilt at risk by experimenting heavily with his starting XI as he tries to assess the squad he inherited from Carlos Corberan.

But the experienced boss insisted Taylor has all the attributes to succeed with the Baggies and even hinted that could happen as early as the start of next season.

He added: "I don't think it's the time for me to experiment with young players, particularly in such crucial positions, now that we're fifth in the league. The time is a six-week pre-season.

"Who is to say I don't start next season with him in the team? Legs, athleticism, good on the ball, six foot five, he's got all the attributes, I just feel he needs to play rather than be an unused sub week after week, and then maybe he doesn't even make the bench.

"I know we could get injuries and people might think 'what are you doing letting big Caleb go?' but we'll have four centre-halves to pick from come the next couple of weeks."