Ready to make a mark: What was said about West Brom prospect Cole Deeming out on loan

One Albion player looking to continue an upward trajectory when pre-season returns this month is midfielder Cole Deeming.

Boyhood Baggie Deeming, 19, enjoyed two loans away from The Hawthorns last season as he sampled an important first taste of regular senior football.

The Halesowen teen spent two months at National League strugglers Truro City, where he made an impression enough to step up a division in the new year as League Two outfit Cheltenham Town provided a Football League opportunity.

Deeming made 17 appearances, five as a starter, as the Robins finished 18th in the fourth tier under Steve Cotterill.

A former Brummie Road season ticket holder, Deeming is expected to have the opportunity to catch the eye in pre-season under head coach James Morrison, who used to coach the youngster at youth level.

Deeming made an impression 12 months ago when the left-footed midfielder emerged under new appointment Ryan Mason and impressed the former Tottenham player and coach.

The graduate was part of the training camp in Austria and is expected to feature prominently in Albion’s pre-season once again.

He made his Albion senior debut aged 17 in an EFL Cup defeat at Fleetwood under Carlos Corberan two years ago and under Mason last year was an unused substitute in the first two fixtures of the season against Blackburn and Derby in league and cup.

What was said about the prospect at Whaddon Road?

Deeming impressed in Gloucestershire despite not quite being able to dislodge the Robins’ regular trio of skipper Luke Young, Ben Stevenson and Isaac Hutchinson.

He saw out 90 minutes just once, on his debut against Grimsby in January, but onlookers were impressed overall and two assists for his loan club underlined the technical quality Deeming possesses.

Experienced boss Cotterill said to Gloucestershire Live of bringing Deeming to Cheltenham: "Cole is quite tall, so his stride will be important during his time here.

He’s going to have to cover a lot of ground in that number 8 role, like Youngy (Luke Young) does.

"He’s normally our top runner, so if Cole can match Youngy’s stats, I’m sure we have a good player on our hands.

"He’s a lovely young lad, who's had a good upbringing at West Brom, and he’s settled in really well with us.

“I had a great conversation with West Brom the other night. There are some good people there I’ve known for a long time.”

Deeming’s Football League debut came in the 2-0 defeat to Grimsby but the Baggies youngster was within a lick of paint of announcing himself in a big way.

“Really tough for him, isn't it?” Cotterill said. “He's only a young man really. I thought he did some really good things. He was unlucky with the one that hit the post.

“That would have been nice, if that had crept in because at 1-0 down, if we'd got the next goal, we could have gone on and won it.”

It was acknowledged that stepping up from semi-professional National League strugglers Truro would be a big step for Deeming.

The Robins boss added of Deeming’s physicality “No (he won’t struggle), he has broad shoulders, a nice left foot. When his brain speeds up to the level he's playing at now, and by that I don't mean he's not cute enough, but he's been playing in the National League and there's a definite step up, certainly for a young boy.”

Cotterill lauded a “fabulous pass” and “sweet left foot” of Deeming’s after a fine assist for Hutchinson against MK Dons in February.

Other starts for Deeming came against Accrington, Barnet, Harrogate and Tranmere, the latter in April, and Albion will hope the midfielder can enjoy a similar reaction to that of Tom Fellows after the winger followed up a League Two loan at Crawley in 2022/23 with a stunning first-team introduction.