Tony Pulis set to throw in West Brom young guns

But the Baggies head coach admits he must balance game-time for the club’s prospects with preserving a top-half finish in the Premier League.

A run of six defeats in eight games has left Albion, who have sat in eighth position since the turn of the year, looking anxiously over their shoulders ahead of a testing run-in which includes games against Chelsea and Manchester City.

With each place in the Premier League table worth an additional £2million in prize money, Pulis is eager for his team not to slide in the standings.

By the same token, he remains keen to blood a number of the club’s academy stars. The bench for Saturday’s game with Leicester City featured three teenagers in the shape of Rekeem Harper, Sam Field and Jonathan Leko, with the latter playing the final 11 minutes of the 1-0 defeat.

Highly-rated Field, meanwhile, has already made six Premier League appearances this term and Pulis wants to give the midfielder further opportunities before the season is out.

“The problem we have got is we are so conscious of the money situation and the amount of money you get for finishing in certain places, it gives you a better opportunity to push the club on,” said Pulis. “But with Leko coming on, Sam Field will get an opportunity in the next four games. We will give the kids a chance.”

Finishing eighth would net Albion £26million in prize money but with just six points now separating themselves and Crystal Palace in 16th (a spot which earns only £10million), the danger of missing out on a significant windfall is becoming increasingly real.

For much of the campaign a top-half finish had appeared a formality for the Baggies, who embarked on a run of nine wins in 16 games between early November and late February which at one point saw them contending with Everton for seventh spot and a possible Europa League place.

The recent rotten run has instead seen them falling back toward the pack and central to their problems has been a lack of goals, with only three scored in the last eight games and all of those coming in the same match – the 3-1 home win over Arsenal.

Pulis points to the loss of Matt Phillips, statisically Albion’s most creative player this season, as key. The 26-year-old has made only three appearances since February 11 due to hamstring injuries and is already out of Saturday’s trip to Turf Moor.

“Phillips has been a big loss, everyone can see that,” said the boss. “Matty’s pace and the opportunities he creates himself to score goals has been missed this back end of the season.

“We’ve done fantastic with this group of players.”