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West Brom caretaker James Shan happy with his coaching team for this week

Caretaker boss James Shan is happy with the coaching team at his disposal for this week.

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Caretaker boss James Shan. (AMA)

Shan is preparing the Baggies for Friday night’s game against Birmingham City, when he will be given a chance to stake a claim for the rest of the season.

Albion were willing to let him bring in a coach on a temporary basis to help him through the week, but he is pleased to carry on with this current crew for the time being.

Loans manager Deon Burton and under-23s boss Jamie Smith have stepped up to the first team to help.

“I realise there has been some talk in the press about a senior figure coming into help but I am very happy with the team we’ve got here leading up to Friday’s game,” said Shan.

“I’m enjoying the responsibility and making the decisions and I am getting good information from the coaches around me. It’s a very confident team.

“We shouldn’t forget Jamie Smith had a lot of games at the top level and has a 12-year coaching career already behind him. We’ve worked together at different levels and we have a really good relationship.

“Deon Burton has over 600 games behind him and international experience and he’s developed a good relationship with the players in the dressing room. He’s got the right personality for that environment.

“I’ve got Gary Walsh (goalkeeping coach) and Nick Davies (fitness) who have also got invaluable experience so I’m more than happy with the team around me and its capability to deliver what is being asked of us.”

Shan is in pole position to see the Baggies through until the end of the season after impressing in his opening two games.

“Training has been excellent,” he added. “We gave the boys some time off last week which was needed but enjoyed three good days of work.

“I was delighted with the tempo of Thursday and Friday and today we have begun to drip feed into the sessions information for our game plan against Birmingham. It’s going really well.”

Birmingham City arrive at The Hawthorns on a four-game losing streak, but Albion were fortunate to escape St Andrew’s with a point earlier this season and Shan is predicting a tough test.

“This will be a very similar challenge to the first match at St Andrew’s,” he said. “They have a clear way of doing things, very structured with plenty of physicality and a real threat from the two boys up front.

“Depending on their selection, there is creativity in the wide areas and I think it’s fair to say we found it difficult against their organisation in the first game. They were a very well drilled and organised team.

“It’s a local derby and that will bring a fantastic atmosphere I’m sure but one for us to all look forward to.

“We’re looking in good shape in terms of our availability. We’ve got Matt Phillips continuing his recovery this week and Ahmed Hegazi is back from Egypt after a training trip.

“We just need Stefan (Johansen) and the younger lads who are with the England age group teams back and we should have some good numbers.”