Express & Star

Craig Dawson set for a West Brom pep talk

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West Brom veteran Gareth McAuley is planning a pep-talk with Craig Dawson this week after replacing his fellow defender for Saturday's draw at

Hull City.moreMcAuley won a recall at Dawson's expense and responded with a Man of the Match display in the drab game at the KC Stadium.

But the Northern Ireland international is planning to speak to Dawson to reassure him about his displays in the early weeks of the season.

McAuley said: "It was difficult on Saturday, because I wasn't aware until the team was announced that I was going to be playing.

"So I just switched the focus on to that but I will have a chat with him in the next few days.

"Dawson had done very well and I couldn't really complain, so I've not been knocking on the manager's door. He will definitely be back and he's right there now as competition.

"We had a clean sheet on Saturday but football changes very quickly. It's nice to be back out there.

"It's been frustrating and most of the frustration has been with myself for getting injured when a new manager came in and not being able to have a good pre-season.

"It's Catch 22 because I want the team to do well, but a run of bad results opened up an opportunity for me."

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