Big Kick-Off: Four key West Brom players for 2026/27
We look at four Baggies men who could be key to success in the 2026/27 campaign.
Albion correspondent Lewis Cox considers four Albion players who could have a big say in the upcoming campaign.
Isaac Price
The attacker’s first full season in Albion colours was a mixed bag. It could hardly have got off to a brighter start, but waned and featured some poor spells - though true could be said across the board.
Price, who is not 23 until September, still finished the campaign with nine goals and four assists and enjoyed a purple patch towards the end of the campaign.
James Morrison used Price more from the left side - the position he once said he preferred - but the head coach managed to inspire much-improved form from the former Everton youngster.
Price has looked strong in pre-season and if Morrison can inspire consistent form then the Northern Irishman can be influential.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan
The summer recruit from Chelsea already looks a bargain at £1.2million and has enjoyed a bright start to his Baggies career as far as pre-season can go.
Forward Morgan, 20, was in the goals in Albion’s friendlies and showed a creative flair, too, with a hand in assists for colleagues. Reports from the early weeks of training were eye-catching finishing.
Morgan has to show he can translate his pre-season form, and similar to his 14-goal campaign in League One with Peterborough last term, to the second tier.
Morgan can play a key role for the Baggies this season in sharing the weight for goals with Aune Heggebo and Barney Stewart, the latter on who there should be less expectation placed.
Callum Styles
It is hard to overlook the left-back, who was a model of consistency last season despite such a poor year across the board.
His quality should not be taken for granted and the Hungary international will play a key role if Morrison’s side can push towards the top eight and be competitive in the right half of the Championship.
Styles will hopefully be assisted and pushed on by the returning Conor Townsend, should he stay fit, and there is a challenge for the 26-year-old to improve on his output in final third.
For a front-footed, attack-minded left-back Styles must get nearer to five goals than none from last term.
Nat Phillips
The experienced 29-year-old defender played a key role in the 10-match unbeaten run in the spring to seal survival under Morrison.
Centre-back Phillips’ first season after a free transfer from Liverpool had otherwise been mixed and inconsistent. Phillips had no permanent partner, which never helped forge an understanding, and goalkeeper issues also proved problematic.
Phillips was latterly partnered by the impressive George Campbell by Morrison and the duo shone - with a five-match sequence of clean sheets at one stage in front of Max O’Leary between the sticks.
The commanding Phillips offers a real presence in the backline. He does not excel with mobility but can be covered by Nolan Galves, Campbell and Styles, but a defender the ilk of Phillips can be just what successful Championship teams require.
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