West Brom begin the big build-up to their Premier League return
It may only be four weeks since their last season finished and Albion’s players were celebrating promotion on the pitch.
But after the shortest of breaks, the Baggies squad returned to their Walsall training base yesterday where they were put through their paces by Slaven Bilic and his coaching team.
Less than a month after promotion to the Premier League was secured, the players all underwent tests for coronavirus on Monday.
And after getting the all-clear 24 hours later, they reported for duty yesterday to begin group training.
Among them was Matheus Pereira, whose permanent move from Sporting Lisbon was confirmed earlier this week.
Skipper Jake Livermore was also in good spirits and arrived with a new blonde haircut.
Oliver Burke also trained with the group having returned from his loan spell at Alaves.
Having all been given programmes to ensure they remained in shape during their break, Albion’s players initially underwent fitness tests to check their condition yesterday morning.
They then resumed contact training with a ball in drills similar to what they were doing when football was given the green light to return following the coronavirus pandemic.
The majority of Albion’s youth and under-23 players did not report for duty, with coronavirus protocols having not yet been introduced in academy football.
But the Express & Star understands striker Jamie Soule and defender Saul Shotton were among the youngsters who were tested on Monday and took a full part in training yesterday.
Also part of the group was goalkeeper Jonathan Bond and defender Lee Peltier, who are both now free agents after their contracts with Albion expired. It is understood Peltier has just asked to train with the Baggies as he looks to find a new club and will not be part of Bilic’s squad next season.
Bond’s future is less clear – with Albion in the market for a new keeper this summer.
It is understood the 27-year-old could be offered a new deal that is likely to see him start the 2020/21 campaign as third choice.
But with the other teams interested, the former Peterborough shot-stopper may feel the time has come to move on and secure first-team football elsewhere.
