Ryan Mason understanding of youth importance after new West Brom appointment

Mason already has a relationship with the Baggies' new under-21s head coach Leigh Downing, who was promoted from within having previously served as under-18s boss.

The first-team head coach plans to watch Downing's under-21s, whose main home base is Damson Park in Solihull, in action as and when time permits.

Mason is well-versed in youth football circles having cut his teeth as a coach with Tottenham's academy. He is well aware a club in the position of Albion's relies heavily on youth products.

"We've already got a relationship that's been there," said Mason, who knew of Downing from his time in under-18s football. "We speak, he was in my office the other day, we come across each other a lot.

"Yes, certainly something I think further down the line I'll probably put a bit more time and energy into in terms of watching games.

"Currently, I'm trying to build something in the first team to be successful and we understand the importance of academy players.

"We've certainly felt that in the previous years and currently in the squad we've got players that have arrived from the academy."

Downing, who has served Albion as a youth coach for more than a decade, replaced Richard Beale as under-21s boss after the latter made the well-trodden move to join Villa's academy this summer.

Beale was set to join League One side Reading in a senior coaching role but instead moved to join neighbours Villa and work with Jimmy Shan and Mark Harrison, both previously of the Baggies' youth set-up.

Mason has already handed a senior debut to a Baggies junior who has been at the club since his days as a schoolboy. Right-back Alex Williams, 20, was handed a first-team bow as a starter in the EFL Cup first round penalty defeat to Derby at The Hawthorns and put in a composed performance.

Albion also made the move to progress one of their brightest talents as midfield prospect Harry Whitwell, 19, sealed his first senior loan by switching to National League big-hitters Forest Green Rovers.

Whitwell, who has made three first-team appearances, netted nine minutes into his debut for Robbie Savage's side. He agreed a new two-year contract at The Hawthorns prior to heading out on a move sourced by the club's head of loans and pathways Chris Brunt.

"Obviously he had a good start but again, it's just a start," Mason said.

"He needs to keep working, keep improving and he's certainly someone that I'm going to keep my eye on.

"I watched the game, I watched the goal. He came on and had a big impact and hopefully he can continue."

Whitwell's fellow midfield prospect Cole Deeming has emerged as a favourite of Mason's in the early months of the head coach's reign. The 18-year-old made Albion's bench for the opening-day victory over Blackburn and having joined the senior squad in their pre-season camp in Austria he caught the eye.

Tom Fellows, Caleb Taylor and Josh Griffiths are current examples of players within the club's first-team squad, while goalkeeper Alex Palmer was sold in a deal possibly rising to £4million to Ipswich, then of the Premier League, in January.