Steve Clarke: Places are up for grabs now

West Brom boss Steve Clarke will tell his squad Premier League places are up for grabs when he hands his first-team hopefuls a chance to shine at Walsall tonight.

Clarke gives a first start to Argentina midfielder Claudio Yacob tonight while a number of other substitutes from Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday are expected to figure.

And, while the new head coach already knows most of his preferred starting line-up against Liverpool in the Premier League curtain-raiser on August 18, he is challenging tonight's side to try to change his mind.

"I wouldn't be very good if I didn't have some kind of idea as to what I'm thinking about doing," joked Clarke.

"But lots of things can happen between now and the first game. "There are another two friendly games and all positions are open for people to impress.

"There are places up for grabs. That's why you make substitutions in games like this. You look to see the reaction of people when they go onto the pitch.

"Everyone who went on at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday ran around, did well and looked to try to improve the team. That's all the boys can do.

"If I get to the start of the season with everybody fit and available, it makes my job difficult but also makes it better.

"You've always got ideas in your head about what you might or might not do.

"It would be wrong of me to say I know exactly what I'm going to do in the first game because a lot can change in two weeks.

"Rather than get fixed on one team, I'll give everybody the chance to get on the pitch and try to persuade me they should be in the starting XI."

New signing Markus Rosenberg will not figure at the Banks's Stadium but Yacob, who figured for the first time as a substitute at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, is expected to play.

Clarke said: "He came into the game on Saturday when players around him were tired. He looked good to me. He looked comfortable. He's a good passer of the ball and put one fantastic pass in for Simon Cox. He's a really good addition to the squad.

"Come August 18, I think he'll be up to full speed."