Express & Star

Goalkeeping department on agenda for West Brom

Albion are reassessing their goalkeeping department over the international break after losing Neil Cutler to rivals Villa.

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Darren Moore. (AMA)

Long-serving academy keeper coach Mark Naylor has stepped into the role of first-team goalkeeping coach for the past two games.

But now the situation will be assessed by head coach Darren Moore and technical director Luke Dowling.

“Obviously Neil has moved on so Mark Naylor stepped up,” said Moore.

“It’s not alien to Nails, because he has done it in parts before.

“Nails is fine with what he’s doing. We’ve allowed Nails to be involved in the Hull game and the Leeds game.

“Then we’ll reassess the situation in the international break.

“We’ve got meetings scheduled this week to have a look at that department.

“Up until now it’s over to Nails. He’s doing his bit and doing very, very well.”

Cutler joined Albion in January after Jonathan Gould followed Tony Pulis to Middlesbrough.

Alan Pardew hired him after Ben Foster recommended Cutler, who he worked with at Stoke.

But the former Walsall coach enjoyed a strong working relationship with Villa boss Dean Smith when both men were at the Saddlers.

Steve Bruce’s goalkeeping coach Gary Walsh was sacked from Villa with Bruce, leaving Smith a hole to fill in that department.

Naylor is one of the longest-serving members of staff at Albion, where he was worked for 18 years.