Could Caleb Taylor be next to make a West Brom breakthrough?

When he then thrust himself into the starting line-up midway through the campaign, that also took supporters by surprise.

But his contribution and his development into one of Carlos Corberan’s go to men has been brilliant to see and an advert for the young quality Albion are producing.

When you produce one many will then ask, who is going to be the next one?

That next one may be coming this season and it may come in the form of Caleb Taylor, who returns to The Hawthorns this summer from a loan spell at League One Bolton Wanderers.

Now, although Taylor and Fellows have come through the Albion system at similar times, their stories are quite different.

Fellows had a brief look through the first team door before spending a season at League Two strugglers Crawley Town.

That campaign was pretty unremarkable collectively, but the experience he gained has allowed him to go on and thrive back at Albion.

For Taylor, his experience and ‘apprenticeship’ if you like, in men’s football, has been longer and at a higher level.

In the 2022/23 campaign he joined the then League One side Cheltenham Town, and racked up 49 appearances in all competitions.

It was a 16th-placed finish for the Whaddon Road men but it was an impressive season with some even last summer tipping him to stick around at The Hawthorns.

And he did until January, making six appearances with two of them coming from the start.

Albion then decided it was time for another loan, and this time it was to top end League One side Bolton.

He only made a handful of appearances for Wanderers as they missed out on promotion in the play-offs.

But again, it was another string to his bow and a chance to gain further experience.

Now he comes back to The Hawthorns with Corberan insisting he will be in the fold next season.

So the question is, can he be the next Fellows and the next academy product to make an impact.

The answer is, absolutely why not?

He comes back to Albion probably in a better place than Fellows did in terms of experience.

His loans have been at a higher level and he has earned his chance to have a crack.

Now, there is a slight difference in the roles that the two players in question have.

As a winger, Fellows not only has a different job but when he makes a mistake, or gives the ball away, it probably isn’t noticed as much as a defender.

As a centre-back if you make an error in a dangerous area of the pitch, it is more likely to be analysed and scrutinised.

However, Taylor has learned his trade and now is his chance.

Especially with the contractual situation around Cedric Kipre and Kyle Bartley yet to be decided, Taylor could well be one of the front-runners for a starting spot come the first game of the season.

If he does, it will be an endorsement for Albion’s academy.

For a while, I’m sure many working there became disheartened at the club losing young assets before the reaching the first team dressing room. But now, they are getting their chance.