'Not just club captain, my captain too' - Ryan Mason gives West Brom skipper big backing
Ryan Mason sees captain and leader Jed Wallace as having a "massive role to play" for Albion this season.
Experienced winger Wallace, 31, emerged from the bench to swiftly fire his side's key second goal in Saturday's 3-2 win at Wrexham.
The club captain, who has not been a regular starter for the Baggies in around 18 months, received glowing praise from head coach Mason for his influence and leadership in the Albion camp.
Mason explained, after a period that has seen several experienced long-serving players depart the club, that Wallace plays a vital role as 'his' captain.
"Yes, he's not just the club captain, he's my captain too," Mason said of former Millwall and Wolves man Wallace.
"He's experienced and I value him massively inside of the training ground, inside of the training group. We've lost a lot of experience and lost a few leaders within our camp in the last couple of months, since the back-end of last season. Jed's got a massive role to play.
"There's other lads obviously that are going to need to step up as well. But yes, he's my captain and I'm very happy that he could come on and have that moment because he fully deserves it."
The club's longest-serving player and vice-captain Kyle Bartley confirmed his retirement from playing on the eve of the new Championship season earlier this month.
He was the latest in a string of experienced squad members to depart the club over the last two-to-three years, specifically since owners Bilkul acquired the club 18 months ago and sought to control the wage bill and bring down a lofty average age.
Semi Ajayi and Grady Diangana also left this summer, while Matty Phillips and Conor Townsend checked out last summer. Alex Palmer was sold in January.
Wallace's place as a regular in Albion's starting line-up lasted around a season-and-a-half until Tom Fellows began to flourish in the right wing position.
The captain, who is in the final year of the contract he signed upon arriving in 2022, has made most of his appearances from the bench since then, or in makeshift roles under former boss Carlos Corberan.
Saturday was Wallace's 14th goal for Albion in 128 appearances. He started just six times last season - and was introduced as a sub on a further 23 occasions - but he remains an influential figure around the club.
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