Why it's crucial Barney Stewart accepts he belongs at West Brom
The striker, brought in from Scotland, is a wildcard recruit from the Baggies this summer.
Barney Stewart has stopped a ‘pinch yourself’ mentality at his Albion move to prove he belongs at the club.
The 22-year-old’s rocketing career trajectory continued this summer as he made the £1.2million switch from Falkirk to The Hawthorns.
Just a little over 18 months ago the striker was playing university football in the eighth tier of Scottish football, but the picture has changed dramatically.
London-born Stewart admitted he could never have foreseen the move 12 months earlier, while injured at Falkirk - but stressed the only way for him to take the opportunity is to feel he belongs at the Baggies.
“One hundred per cent, without a question,” Stewart said on the surreal nature of his move.
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“At the start of last season I never, ever thought I'd be here at the start of this season, but it's one of those where you can only pinch yourself for so long.
“Because if I'm just stood here pinching myself, I'm never going to actually perform and accept the fact that I'm at this level.
“I want to do well at this level and I back myself as much as anyone else.
“So I can't just sit here and be like ‘oh wow, it's so good to be here!’ But then not actually feel like I deserve to be here.
“So I've just accepted in my head I've earned my move here. So although it is surreal and it's unbelievable, I've got to just be... ‘alright, that is what it is now’. I've got to try to kick on from here.”
The rangy 6ft 2ins frontman agreed a four-year contract at The Hawthorns, mapping out his long-term future in the Black Country.
He netted in the win over Bromley in Portugal last week.
The striker added of the mood in the camp: “I think when you go 10 unbeaten you're fearless. You know that you can do that. You've proven to yourself that you can do that.
“You've proven to everyone that even when your back is against the wall, you can go 10 unbeaten. So why can't that just continue on to next season?
“You can tell there’s a mentality that the boys are really wanting to impress Mozza, to get their spot in the starting 11.
“It's a good, healthy environment that pushes everyone to thrive.”
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