Albion's Joleon Lescott: 'Downing and Kelly were key to to my development'

And former £22 million man Joleon Lescott has said all of that is thanks in part to West Brom's two joint assistant head coaches.

Both Keith Downing and Rob Kelly, who moved to Albion with head coach Alan Irvine at the beginning of the summer, were members of the Wolves set up where Lescott started his career.

The central defender believes he would not have gone on to win 26 England caps if it were not for the duo.

He said: "They were very influential when I was growing up. They were key to my development.

"They saw something early enough - not just ability wise but in terms of my attitude.

"You have to have the right attitude. It's all very well having the skills but you need to be able to be read mentally. They helped me with that.

"I owe them a lot."

Downing, who himself made nearly 200 appearances for Wolves and who has been a member of West Brom's coaching staff for five years, was Lescott's youth team manager.

"He was a great coach for me growing up," Lescott said. "He was the man to know.

"Obviously he was my manager but we grew up in the same area so we had that in common.

"Rob was another one - he was head of recruitment when I joined. I had a great relationship and at that stage of my career it was a perfect match.

"This is a big reason why I came to West Brom, I know and understand the people. They've given me a lot of confidence."

Lescott has also said that the main reason for him joining the Baggies was the pull of new head coach Alan Irvine, who was in the coaching staff under David Moyes during his spell at Everton.

He is full of praise for the Scot and is looking forward to working under him again, but has admitted he was surprised to see him installed as Albion boss.

"I would say I was surprised but not because he isn't capable, simply because he didn't seem to be in the running.

"But it was good for me. I don't doubt his credentials or knowledge of the game.

"It was up to the chairman to appoint him but if I didn't think he was good enough I definitely wouldn't have signed.

"I've come from a team that won the league and trophies - I wasn't just going to go anywhere. Alan was a big reason for that."