Darnell Furlong ready to rekindle relationship with Matt Phillips at 'ambitious' West Brom

The Baggies' new right-back played behind Phillips at QPR, and even made his senior debut in football alongside the winger.

Phillips only has one year left on his Albion contract, but the Baggies are currently expecting him to stay for next season.

"He's a really nice guy," said Furlong. "He's made me feel welcome. It's nice to be back playing with a familiar face.

"We'll try and make it a good partnership. Matty's an incredible player with what he can do, not only in the Championship but in the Premier League. I'm delighted to be working with him again."

Despite being old friends, Furlong didn't let Phillips know he was signing for the Baggies this week. The 23-year-old was handed a four-year deal after the two clubs agreed a £1.5million fee.

"No I was told to keep it under wraps, I didn't want to ruin anything or upset anyone so I kept it quite quiet," he revealed. "But it was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to have a conversation with him once it was all done.

"He looked surprised at first! It's been a little while, five or six years, it's just really nice to link up with the new set of boys and see where we go."

Furlong made his debut for the Baggies just hours after signing, and he impressed against Rotherham United at full-back.

"It was a little bit weird not knowing some names, there's so many to get used to, so I was a little bit unsure, but the boys have welcomed me," he said.

"They're a great bunch of guys, I'm not just saying that because I'm new, but they really are. They talk about where you're staying, I've felt very integrated, very early."

Furlong came through the youth ranks at QPR, where his dad Paul used to be a striker, but Albion's ambitious plans convinced him to leave his boyhood club.

"I loved my time at QPR and I still love the club," he said. "It's still got a special place in my heart.

"Not only have I played for them for the past 13 seasons but before that I was watching my dad every week. I've grown up with the club, you become a fan when you're dad is playing for them so I only want to see them do well in the future.

"It was very sad to leave lots of staff and players I've worked with for years, good friends.

"But it's a new opportunity, you've got to push yourself out of your comfort zone in order to improve.

"The club is crazy ambitious and rightly so, all they want to do is get back to where they should be and where they belong which is the Premier League. I'm delighted to be a part of that ambition.

"There's an ambition at QPR as well, but it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down, it's very appealing."

Furlong was wearing the number two jersey last night vacated by Allan Nyom, who is over in Spain finalising a move to Getafe for a nominal fee.

He was a dynamic presence on the right-hand side of the pitch, and is looking forward to knuckling down under Slaven Bilic after a whirlwind few days.

"I've worked under many managers, his past speaks for itself," said Furlong. "I always try and pick up something new from managers, adapt my game, and that's what I'll try to do here.

"It's been an unsettling few days, lots of travelling, going for medicals here and hospitals there, but the reward is at the end and I'm here now and can't wait to get going.

"I only heard about the interest at the back end of last week. Whether it was before that I'm not too sure but credit to both clubs for getting it sorted quickly. I'm pleased.

"I like to think of myself as an athletic player, if I can use that, get forward up and down the pitch, I'm going to do that. That's part of my game."

Furlong promised Albion fans to give everything he could in the shirt, and he revealed that Bilic demanded something similar.

"The first meeting we had before the game was we need to work harder than the opposition," he said. "That's what I've been brought up to do.

"That, with the quality we've got in the dressing room, it's a great make up and I'm looking forward to it.

"I'm hard working, dedicated, only want to do well for my teammates and the club. We want to get back to where the club should be and I'll do everything I can to help."