Express & Star

West Brom jetting off to Dubai immediately after Norwich game

Albion are jetting off to Dubai immediately after this weekend’s match for a five-day warm-weather training camp.

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Darren Moore wants a change of scenery for his team. (AMA)

Baggies boss Darren Moore is utilising the nine-day gap in between Albion’s matches against Norwich City and Bolton Wanderers to give his team a change of scenery.

The training camp comes just under a year after Albion’s ill-fated mid-season trip to Barcelona under former boss Alan Pardew.

Four senior players allegedly stole a taxi on that trip and were subsequently fined by the club. Pardew lost every game as Albion manager after that.

Three players from that episode remain at the club – Boaz Myhill, Jake Livermore, and Gareth Barry – and all three are expected to be heading to Dubai.

However, Albion are a markedly different club 11 months on from the Barcelona incident and there is a different environment at the club under Moore.

Barry has run away with Albion’s player of the month award for December – an award which is voted for by fans – and his name is currently being sung by supporters at every game.

Livermore signed a contract extension last month after a series of impressive performances under Moore.

While there will be time to unwind in Dubai, the focus will be on training.

“I had this trip at the back of my mind within a couple of days of my appointment but we had to wait for our FA Cup result before finalising plans,” said Moore.

“All we are focusing on at the moment is the Norwich game which is going to be another tough fixture in the schedule.

“We have got a couple of extra days to prepare for the Bolton game which follows and I believe it will be very beneficial for the players to get a change of scenery, a change of rhythm and get further quality training under their belts.

“This trip will give us the opportunity to work hard on the team’s development, of their work in and out of possession and their capacity to cope with all the different challenges the Championship can throw at you.”

Dubai can reach temperatures higher than 40C in the summer, but the forecast for next week is mid to high 20s.

Other clubs, including Celtic and Manchester United, are also currently in Dubai for warm weather training.

Albion are due to return on Thursday, giving them plenty of time to get acclimatised to English timezones and weather ahead of a Monday night trip to Bolton.

Taking the whole playing and coaching staff to Dubai for five days is an expensive trip, but Albion received £135,000 for winning their FA Cup third round match and a further £50,000 for being shown on television overseas.