West Brom blog: Time to blood the youngsters
The 2018/19 season could provide the perfect opportunity to blood some of the club’s talented youngsters into the first team.
Most Albion fans agree that the squad requires a significant overhaul in the summer transfer window following a frankly dismal season in the Premier League, writes Baggies blogger Nathan Carr.
Such a big clear-out should free up space for several up-and-coming prospects to taste senior football at the Hawthorns.
The West Brom academy has a glowing reputation as one of the leading academies in the country and we’d be foolish not to capitalise on that.
Sure, there’s always a degree of risk and unpredictability when fielding young players, but they need to gain experience at some point.
Sam Field, Jonathan Leko and Rekeem Harper have enjoyed first team action already; Field being the most experienced of the trio with 22 senior appearances to his name so far.
Meanwhile, the likes of Kane Wilson, Kyle Edwards, Max Melbourne, Jack Fitzwater, Jamie Soule and Rayhaan Tulloch are all young professionals hungry to make a name for themselves and they should be allowed the opportunity to do so.
Striking a balance between youth and experience is important, though.
If we can surround these youngsters with older heads such as Ben Foster, Chris Brunt, James Morrison and Jay Rodriguez, then we’ll hopefully be onto a winning combination.
