Two-time promotion winner Chris Mepham sees parallels as he eyes hat-trick with West Brom

Wales international centre-back Mepham knows a thing or two about the ingredients required for promotion having achieved as much on two occasions, with Bournemouth in 2022 and Sunderland last season.

And the 27-year-old, who left the Cherries for the Baggies in a permanent £1million move late in the summer, admitted he was attracted by the potential and ambition of reaching the Premier League for a third time after calling time on six years on the south coast.

Mepham made 38 league appearances on loan at Sunderland last season as vital cog in Regis Le Bris' side who won the play-offs. The Welshman played most of the final against Sheffield United at Wembley.

Sunderland had a young, unfancied squad, with a relatively new head coach and the defender sees parallels.

"It does feel similar and I think that's what attracted me to coming here," Mepham. who signed a three-year deal, told the Express & Star.

"The ambition to get promoted. Of course, Sunderland would have been the same, but I think at the back end of the season before they probably didn't finish that strong. 

"There area lot of similarities. I've always said, even playing West Brom last year, I remember The Hawthorns game, I think we won 1-0, but it felt a bit like Derby's (recent) smash-and-grab, to be honest.

"I feel like it's always been a team that should be doing better and probably needs one or two players to come in and really help that push. I'm confident that I can be a player that can come in and help that. Hopefully, with my experience so far, that can only help the team."

Mepham, one of nine new Albion recruits in the summer, noticed a young and talented group under new head coach Ryan Mason when he started training at the club. Owners Bilkul have been working for 18 months to lower the club's average age.

"At the point I joined, I could see the quality in the team and in training," the defender said. "I'm going to be honest, I've very much got the same sort of feeling.

"I think as a project, it seems similar to what I got pitched last season. A lot of similarities, obviously a lot more experience in this team, which you need in this league. I definitely think with the start, we were fortunately able to carry that momentum on."

Mepham recently won his 50th cap for Wales and made a immediate impression with Albion as he partnered Nat Phillips - a promotion-winning colleague at Bournemouth - to an excellent 1-0 win at Stoke. Two defeats have followed, but Mepham has cut a cool customer in the backline.

Asked about promotion promotion credentials, Mepham replied: "Yes, 100 per cent. I think that's a big reason why I came here.

"I think that feeling of winning games and playing for something is what I care about as a footballer. I think you want to feel like you're part of something.

"For sure, when I had the phone calls with the gaffer and looking at the team from a distance, it's always been a club that I feel like is probably underachieved. There's no reason why we can't go and get promoted this year. You've already seen the quality so far this season.

"I think momentum is massive in this league. If I could do it three times, that would be impressive. Like I said, I'm confident we can definitely be up there."

Mepham is optimistic the prospect of stability and working under an un-and-coming head coach bodes well at The Hawthorns.

"I think that stability in football is massive - not having too many different ideas and a turnover of managers," added Mepham, who made 121 appearances in six seasons at Bournemouth.

"I think generally the teams that are successful are the ones that stick with who they believe can lead the team. I think you can see already the manager's ideas at the start of the season and the way he is just around the place.

"It's obviously really pleasing and that was a big part of why I came here. A young, ambitious manager that wants to do well and with really exciting ideas. I think that stability is big and I think it gives the players time to adjust to what the manager demands.

"I think hopefully the results look after themselves, in which case it should be nice and settled."