Ryan Mason insists West Brom youngsters must 'earn' place in squad and makes 'premature' point
Albion boss Ryan Mason admitted the decision to put two goalkeepers on the bench is to protect "premature" calls for young players who have to earn the position.
Saturday's home defeat to Derby was the second game running in which head coach Mason has opted to name back-up goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith and youth shot-stopper Joe Wallis among his substitutes.
Albion are currently nursing four senior absentees through injury - Daryl Dike, Tammer Bany, Krystian Bielik and Karlan Grant, and there was a place for promising teen winger Ollie Bostock, 18, on the bench against the Rams.
But Mason, whose side were beaten in the league for the first time this season, opted against more outfield youth in reserve and named New Zealand youth international Wallis on the bench with Wildsmith. The boss feels youngsters can suffer from premature calls and need protecting.
"Obviously we had Ollie on the bench," Mason said. "But I think it's important to protect what we have in terms of the training group every day and players who understand what we want and how the team looks.
"Then it is also protecting the young players. We love our academy. We want players to make that step and come and help us in the first team.
"But at the same time, their journey has to be earned. If you're putting players on the bench prematurely, then sometimes that can have the negative effect in the opposite way.
"So that's certainly the challenge for anyone in the academy, to make an impression, to try and make that step."
Wallis, 20, is yet to make his senior Baggies debut and moved to the club in September 2024 from his native New Zealand. He is a regular in first-team training and joined the pre-season tour in Austria.
Wales under-19 captain Bostock remained an unused substitute against Derby but his development was recently rewarded with a second senior contract.
Mason has handed a first-team debut to Welsh right-back Alex Williams, 20, during his short time at the club and midfielder Cole Deeming, 18, has caught the eye of the management and made the senior matchday squad on the opening day against Blackburn.
Midfield prospect Harry Whitwell, 19, also agreed fresh terms before heading out to a first loan at Forest Green Rovers of the National League.
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