Harvey Barnes targeting West Brom promotion charge

The Leicester loanee has been impressed with both the facilities and the players he’s found at his new club, and says the side is one of the strongest in the Championship when it clicks.

Darren Moore’s men are currently in ninth place, but they can shoot up to third temporarily with victory over Birmingham City tomorrow night.

And Barnes says bouncing straight back up is on everyone’s agenda this season.

“Everyone around the club wants to push for promotion,” he said. “The team knows what it’s capable of, it’s just a case of taking it week by week. When it clicks, we’re one of the strongest sides in the league.

“By the end of the season we want to be in and around it.

“This is a Premier League club really, the facilities are top notch.

“You look around the changing room there are big names and great players.

“So you have to play as well as them. You’ve got to be confident in yourself and hope those players around you trust you to do a job for the team.”

One of the players the 20-year-old has been watching in training is Gareth Barry, who played his first senior professional game six months after Barnes was born.

“He’s got that steady head on his shoulders,” said Barnes.

“He may not have the legs he had before but the technical ability he’s got you can learn so much from him.”

Albion used the international break to give free agents Wes Hoolahan and Russell Martin a trial last week.

Playmaker Hoolahan, 36, was of particular interest, but the pair have not been training with the Baggies this week because Moore wants no distractions ahead of the Blues game.

He is due to speak with chief executive Mark Jenkins before deciding whether to offer either a short-term contract.