Tony Pulis ready to give Kane Wilson his Premier League debut

The 16-year-old defender could make his league debut against Middlesbrough on Sunday and become the first player born since 2000 to play in the top flight, just days after he picked up his GCSE results.

Wilson made his debut at Northampton Town on Tuesday night when he came on for Everton loanee Brendan Galloway.

Galloway faces a late fitness test on a hamstring injury but Pulis would have no hesitation playing Wilson on Sunday if the left-back was deemed unfit.

"No, not at all, he's a fantastic lad," said the Welshman. "Kane needs work in certain areas, because he still gets very flat on the ball and his positional sense at times is poor but he is only 16 years of age and when you look at his attributes he's a very, very good athlete. He has great touch and great composure.

"I really do think he has a bright future but as I have said – and I have had him into my office on numerous occasions – it is keeping your feet on the ground and not getting carried away.

"You see so many people who get in and play well but then lose their way, but these will be managed properly, there is no way they will get away with that at this football club.

"Fingers crossed they (Wilson and fellow youngsters Jonathan Leko and Sam Field) will just get better and better.

"I am hoping this season will be a breakthrough for them, that they will get quite a few games and then they will just keep going forward."

Castle Bromwich-born Wilson has emerged through the Baggies' academy and has been an unused substitute in their first two Premier League games this season.

He received his exam results on Thursday and picked up two As, four Bs and five Cs, but admitted he was disappointed with his grade in PE.

"My family came to pick me up from training and they had been to collect my results from my school," he said.

"I couldn't wait and had to open them in the car. When I read the results out we all went crazy, I was delighted with them.

"I got A's in ICT and citizenship and then B's in English and physics. I only got a B in PE, though, so I don't know what has gone wrong there, I'm gutted about that!"