Ryan Mason explains Mikey Johnston withdrawal after West Brom boos and makes Tom Fellows point

The 26-year-old, who was close to a summer exit to Brazil giants Flamengo, was withdrawn midway through the second half for Isaac Price and many of The Hawthorns home crowd reacted with boos.

Mason revealed afterwards he felt winger Johnston was struggling physically. Albion line up again at Swansea on Thursday, less than 72 hours after Monday night's full-time whistle.

"He's affecting games, which is important," Mason said of assist king Johnston, who lined up centrally against QPR.

"By the time he'd come off he couldn't move. He was cramping up and struggling from a physical point of view. But he affected the game, which is what we want.

"Obviously we lost Tom this season in that position. He ended up with 15 or so assists last season, so there was a lot of weight on Mikey's shoulders to try to step up and affect as many games as possible for us.

"He's been able to do that so far, he needs to continue."

Fellows departed boyhood club Albion as he swapped The Hawthorns for St Mary's in a £10million move in August as the current campaign had already got under way.

He haunted the Baggies a few weeks ago with an assist as Southampton saw off Mason's side in a 3-2 win on the south coast. 

Mason added of his decision: "I think it was clear that Mikey and Bo (Aune Heggebo) from a physical point of view had dropped massively. In this league you need players to come on and get you over the line.

"I thought Pricey (Isaac Price) and Josh (Maja) came on and helped us. We looked a lot more dangerous on the counter-attack with a lot more speed and could or maybe should have scored a third.

"Yes (I was surprised by the reaction), because I think everyone could see the physical toll it had taken on them."

Price had been struggling with sickness prior to Monday's clash.