Express & Star

Gareth Barry could earn new West Brom deal under Slaven Bilic

Gareth Barry is still training with Albion this summer and could earn a new deal once he recovers from knee surgery.

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Gareth Barry.

The veteran midfielder is part of a list of players due to be officially released at the end of this week, alongside Albion’s longest-serving player James Morrison and goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

But the Premier League’s record appearance maker has been taking advantage of Albion’s facilities at their headquarters in Walsall as he completes his rehabilitation from injury.

New boss Slaven Bilic is expected to run the rule over the 38-year-old, who confirmed in April he wanted to play one more season of football, either at The Hawthorns or elsewhere.

Despite his advancing years, Barry impressed at the base of midfield last season, but he missed the last 11 games through injury.

“He had an operation at the end of the season, we missed him at certain times,” said technical director Luke Dowling this week.

“We’ve shown him that care and let him do his rehab.

"I’ve seen many situations when a player starts his rehab and the manager thinks ‘I’ll have a little look at him actually!’ That’s the situation we’re in.”

Although Barry’s contract officially runs out at the end of this week, there is no rush for Bilic and the Baggies to decide whether to offer him a new one.

Thanks to a clause negotiated by the Players’ Football Association, any out-of-contract players who can’t find another club are entitled to an extra month’s pay from their previous club during July.

In April, Barry said: “I definitely want to play one more year, that’s still the case now. Anything is a bonus. If I still feel I can compete at the level then why not?”

Last summer, Myhill was released before earning an extra year after impressing former goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler in training over summer.

Morrison also earned a new contract last summer after returning from an Achilles injury.

It was a one-year deal with 12 months extra in his favour, but the 33-year-old did not play enough games last season to trigger that option.

Albion’s long-serving midfielder will officially be a free agent on Monday, and has so far not been invited in for training by Bilic.

Championship clubs Reading, Bristol City, and Blackburn Rovers have all been linked with a free transfer for the Scotland international.

Rovers manager Tony Mowbray signed Morrison for Albion back in August 2007 when he was Baggies boss.