Slaven Bilic: Oli Burke has a future at West Brom
Albion manager Slaven Bilic has insisted that he sees Oliver Burke's future at the club, despite the forward saying he doesn't feel part of the set-up at The Hawthorns.
The winger, currently on loan at Spanish side Alaves, recently said that he hopes his spell overseas will 'put him in the shop window' after not feeling a part of the club.
Now, Bilic has said Burke is still in his plans if he can prove himself.
"Of course (I see his future at Albion)," he said.
"Same with (Jonathan) Leko, same with Sam Field, same with the players who went on loan.
"For me it would be much easier to avoid this kind of situation when we have both left-backs out for a month, I could keep Burke if he was a left back, it would be easier to say 'you stay here', but that's not good for the player.
"And it's not good long-term for the club.
"That's why it's the same principle with Ollie, go there and prove yourself and come back and say you want to play here.
"I can only talk about my time with him here, it was only a few weeks to be fair.
"A good professional, he's got everything.
"He shows you everything that he's got on paper, he shows you in training, (but) not consistent."
The 22-year-old came through the youth ranks at Nottingham Forest, before making his name at German side Red Bull Leipzig.
Since his £15 million move to the Black Country in 2017, Burke has only made 20 Baggies appearances and Bilic believes he needs to find some consistency.
"I spoke to him and he's got a tag, big expectations and everything," he added.
"For that he needs consistency, he needs minutes.
"He needs to play week in, week out.
"15 minutes or half an hour, I don't think it would break that barrier.
"It's not necessarily that he's got it, but all the people that care about the club have that a little bit.
"That affects the players of course.
"I spoke to him and at that moment it was more likely that he will fight for his position.
"Getting the minutes but not the games.
"That wouldn't clear the situation for him.
"I think that he has everything and we agreed to go somewhere to try to make his name in an environment that is not expecting from him straight away.
"And then to come back to us, that was the plan."
