West Brom prospect rewarded for season's progresses with first senior international call

Albion youngster Ollie Bostock has been rewarded for his progress this season with a first inclusion in a senior Wales squad.

The 19-year-old made his first-team Albion debut at Millwall in October and went on to make nine first-team appearances in all competitions, and netted his first professional goal at Oxford.

Bostock has been a regular in Wales age groups, where he has served as captain, right through to under-21s and earlier in May was named in a senior training camp under boss Craig Bellamy.

Wales face back-to-back friendlies against Ghana in Cardiff next Tuesday and away in Romania on Saturday week.

Bostock did not make the squad but was placed on a standby list and has now been promoted to the squad due to drop outs elsewhere.

Albion academy graduate colleague Alex Williams was also part of the training camp.

Lichfield teen Bostock joins club colleague Chris Mepham in the Welsh squad. Experienced defender Mepham has 52 caps for his nation.

The tricky winger has long been seen as one of the brightest prospects in the Baggies youth ranks and was able to make an impression at first-team level in a disappointing season for the club overall.

He was handed a debut cameo by former boss Ryan Mason in the poor defeat at Millwall and Bostock, who originally hails from London, caught the eye late on.

One of his finest days came in the FA Cup at Swansea where, from the bench, he laid on an assist for Jed Wallace and converted the winning penalty in the shootout.

Bostock scored Albion’s goal in a 2-1 defeat at Oxford in the first game under James Morrison in late February.

His three Baggies starts came at Norwich in the FA Cup fourth round defeat and twice in the Championship in Sheffield in clashes against United and Wednesday at Bramall Lane and Hillsborough.

Wales failed to make this summer’s World Cup after a qualifying semi-final defeat to Bosnia on penalties in March.