Heggebo The Hulk encourages fans, Heggem features and Price response - West Brom talking points

There was a lot for Baggies head coach Ryan Mason to be encouraged by and here are some talking points from an entertaining afternoon at The Hawthorns.

Heggebo 'The Hulk'

On this evidence it is little wonder fans of his former club SK Brann nicknamed the striker after the classic giant green Marvel comic hero.

The new £4.7million striker, like most of his colleagues, struggled to get to grips early on - but one of Aune Heggebo's soon-to-be familiar bullish runs set the tone.

He is a fighter, in a footballing sense, that much is clear. Heggebo was tireless and that insatiable work ethic will win him support in Albion's fanbase. 

He showed on several occasions as a lone main striker he is capable of holding off multiple defenders. Albion, to their credit, got very decent support to him at times.

A left-footed striker feels it brings good balance. Heggebo was slightly ragged at times with the ball, but this was mightily encouraging.

Heggem surprise with boss tight-lipped

Albion's other Norwegian could well be on his way out of The Hawthorns on the eve of the Championship season. Bologna and the Baggies are locked in negotiations for a deal worth around £10m for the star defender.

Very few expected to see last year's player of the season involved against Vallecano, but Heggem started and played the entire contest.

He was his usual composed self for the most part. There was one errant backpass but several other fine bits of recovery.

Mason's response to a question on Heggem's future was an 'unaware' one, but Albion's sporting director Andrew Nestor was in the house - the pair caught up pitchside afterwards. Heggem would be a loss for Albion, but for that kind of sale the club cannot turn it down.

New recruit defenders Nat Phillips cut a dominant figure and George Campbell, on as a substitute in an unfamiliar left-back role, impressed.

Johnston and Price make points

Baggies star Isaac Price has been relatively quiet in a couple of Albion's pre-season friendlies so far.

Winger Mikey Johnston, who has had to make do with a cameo role after his failed move to Brazil, has been the opposite when he has come on in games. He has the bit between his teeth and has been a direct threat.

The two do not operate in the same position, but Johnston was given the nod to start here with Price benched. Johnston was tricky, bright and looked in good shape again, with a couple of efforts at goal. It was Karlan Grant, who netted the second, who played in the advanced support striker role where Price has operated.

The ongoing debate around Price is which is his best position? The young midfielder is a real star for Albion, it will be fascinating to see where Mason uses him.

He made his point on Saturday. From the moment he came on Price - in an old-school long-sleeve shirt - was central to everything and his use of the ball was class. He scored a fine third goal after excellent Jed Wallace work. It would be a big call to not start Price next weekend against Blackburn.

Options thin elsewhere

Options in those attacking positions include Johnston, Price, Grant, Wallace, Tom Fellows and - when fit - Tammer Bany. When asked about Price and Johnston, Mason noted the depth in that department, but there was a subtle hint, perhaps, to not as much elsewhere in the squad.

That is clear as day in some areas. One of those is central midfield, where with a slight injury for Ousmane Diakite (ankle), only experienced duo Alex Mowatt and Jayson Molumby remain - they both played 90 minutes.

Elsewhere up front Albion are once again without Daryl Dike. The luckless striker will be out until into September with a thigh injury. Josh Maja missed Saturday with a minor concern, though Mason was optimistic he will be OK for Blackburn. Albion are short in that role, with just Heggebo and Devante Cole the others.

Full-back is a light area too, specifically on the left. A Heggem exit would leave four centre-back options including Kyle Bartley, who has not been involved in pre-season.

Sign of character

It was only a friendly - but this was fully competitive with the season just a week away.

Vallecano, a Europa Conference League outfit, were smart in possession and had good energy. Albion were really tested, physically, tactically and technically.

They did not deserve to fall behind to the 70th-minute opening goal. It was a poor error from goalkeeper Josh Griffiths and one he and Albion could have done without, with the young shot-stopper looking to impress.

But Mason's troops showed a grit and strong mindset to not let it set them back. Quite the opposite, indeed, as they flooded forward and the floodgates opened, with three fine goals in just five minutes. Signs of a welcome clinical edge?