West Brom optimistic new boss can play pivotal role in progressing exciting prospects

Albion are optimistic new boss James Morrison is the right man at the helm to allow the club’s burgeoning youngsters flourish.

There is an expectation within the corridors at The Hawthorns that the next crop of teens to push towards the first-team squad could be among the brightest for several years.

Academy boss Richard Stevens and his staff have worked tirelessly to move the youth set-up in the right direction and continue to offer prospects a pathway. The appointment of former youth coach as first-team boss could work in the youngsters’ favour.

Difficult times off the field with the previous ownership of Guochuan Lai meant some big Baggies youth talent was all too easily poached, particularly by nearby neighbours. Albion’s place in the pecking order remains below Villa and talent can always be suspectable to money-spinning offers, but staff are hopeful the rising crop will believe they are in the right place.

“We’ve got some amazing talent at this football club,” said under-18s boss Chay Thompson, who guided his side to a record Premier League South finish of fifth this term.

“There are players pushing on, with the likes of Harry Whitwell, Ollie Bostock, Eseosa Sule and Souleyman Mandey in and around the first team.

“There are even more coming through in this academy and with the right pathway and guidance, they can go far.

“There’s a lot of communication with the club, head coach James Morrison knows these young players having worked in the academy, and we know the club are watching who’s doing well and impressing, which is great to have.”

Albion’s under-18s have sparkled this season with striker Harry French the top scorer and the likes of Justin Seven-Seven, Jaiden Francis-Caesar, Rio Parmar and Remar McNeil making up an exciting attacking unit.

McNeil and French have signed first professional deals and an offer has been made to Francis-Caesar.

Albion’s under-17s reached the semi-final of the Premier League Cup. The FA Youth Cup ended in an unfortunate fourth round penalty shootout defeat at Sunderland.

“We focused on being more competitive and the lads have got some good results from it,” Thompson added.

“We’ve had some games where we performed at a really high level. We just wanted to finish as high as we could in the league and get the lads to push their games on, with some of them earning professional contracts.

“We’ve got a lot of players over the line in that respect, and are incredibly proud of our staff and players.”