Alan Pardew admits Premier League peril may hits young guns’ hopes at West Brom
Boss Alan Pardew admits Albion’s perilous position in the Premier League may limit opportunities for young stars including Oliver Burke and Sam Field.
The duo have both been on the fringes of the Baggies team in recent weeks but have started just three league starts between them since Pardew took over at The Hawthorns in November.
Field’s substitute appearance in Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup win at Exeter was his first action since being taken off at half-time in last month’s 1-0 defeat at Swansea.
Burke, who has been hampered by injury since his £15million summer switch from RB Leipzig, started in the 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United but has otherwise been limited to cameos off the bench.
And Pardew admitted he is more likely to turn to experienced heads as he looks to crack the Baggies 20-game winless Premier League run.
He explained: “I’d love to give those players game experience, in a better scenario that we’re in. But we’re in a scenario where we haven’t won for a long time so we have to win a game.
“I explain to all the young players here, their progression as an individual has to take a back seat to the situation of the club.
“What comes first is the football club, everything else is second. It all comes secondary now. It doesn’t mean we won’t involve those players on the training ground or on loan.”
Burke and Field nevertheless remain likely to play some part, reduced or not, with Pardew admitting everyone must play their part as the Baggies fight against the drop.
The head coach has recalled a number of players from loan spells this month as he looks for the ingredient to spark the team.
He said: “There are situations since I’ve been here when the players on loan are better than those on the bench. We need all hands to the pumps here.”
