Albion's Joe Mattock to leave on loan
A relieved Joe Mattock is set to join the loan trail out of the Hawthorns to continue his recovery from the most worrying chapter of his career.
A relieved Joe Mattock is set to join the loan trail out of the Hawthorns to continue his recovery from the most worrying chapter of his career.
Albion's signing of Nicky Shorey from Villa to join Slovakia international Marek Cech has bumped 20-year-old Mattock another place down the left-back pecking order.
That is likely to see the former Leicester player up for grabs in the loan market, with the Baggies keen to let the defender's first- team career continue.
It follows the end of Mattock's recent court ordeal, which saw the player given a suspended detention order after admitting an affray charge arising from a night club incident in Leicester a year ago.
Albion acknowledge the case had been a major worry for Mattock and share his relief that he is now free to focus on his football.
Sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth said: "Joe's only just turned 20. He's a young boy who has already achieved a lot in his career.
"He played a lot of games for Leicester, played a lot for us last season and got to European Championships semi-finals with England's under-19s.
"He's got two terrific players vying for the same spot in Nicky Shorey and Marek Cech. If he goes to the Championship to gain more experience then fine.
"At the moment, though, we only have one fit left-back and Joe will be fit before Marek so he will stay here for now.
"What happened with the court case was worrying for Joe, but, again, he was 19 at the time of the incident.
"He's still young. He will knuckle down and focus on a promising career. we're sure he will be fine.
"We have had some interest in Joe but he was injured and I think people were concerned about the court case, so it will be interesting to see what happens now."
Albion have got other potential 'loan-outs' to consider with strikers Luke Moore, Chris Wood and Simon Cox all attracting varying degrees of interest from Championship clubs.
The prospect of the quartet being 'parked' in the second tier of English football comes after a summer of heavy recruitment by Ashworth and head coach Roberto Di Matteo.
One of the lesser-known recruits, 27-year-old Cameroon international Somen Tchoyi, is stepping up his challenge after another successful work-out in the reserves yesterday.
Di Matteo said: "He's catching up fitness wise. The reason we signed him is, because he is something different we don't have in the squad.
"He's powerful, can go past a player and can be a threat in the box."
