'More needed': Four key areas of West Brom squad Ryan Mason needs to address ahead of new season

Mason has had a week in the job where he has no doubt been reaching out to players who are away on their summer break.

They will soon be back in for pre-season ahead of the new Championship campaign.

Mason will be running the rule over them but he will already know who he sees as his star men ahead of next season.

But what big decisions or conundrums does he face with his playing squad?

Here are four key areas that Mason could be looking at and that could pose a question ahead of next season:

Bartley and the defensive case

Albion head into the summer a centre back down as Semi Ajayi was released following the end of his contract.

That leaves Albion with Torbjorn Heggem, Kyle Bartley and the returning Caleb Taylor.

Many are tipping Taylor to play alongside Heggem next season, but Albion are also in the hunt for another central defender.

Then there is Bartley, the experienced campaigner who activated another year on his deal recently.

But how much can he or will he reasonably play next season? That is a decision for Mason to make. He has been praised for his leadership, which some have questioned, but is that what he will be there for next season? 

A big voice off the pitch rather than on it? His injury issues have been there in recent years, with Taylor coming back and Albion strengthening, it could well be he is just a bit part player under Mason.

System changes

In recent years under a number of managers Albion have very much been a 4-2-3-1 side, like many are.

The question for Mason is will he change it up now. It was a bit more fluid under Tony Mowbray as he looked to try and get Albion playing attacking football.

But they have been in that kind of stock system for some time now. Could it be time for a change? It would certainly be refreshing to see.

Given his lack of first team managerial experience it is difficult to predict what he will do at the moment.

A playmaker

The recruitment drive will have already been started by those at Albion, prior to Mason's arrival.

It will be interesting to see where Albion target. From the reports, we know they are in the market for a central defender, but where else are they or should they be looking?

Albion are light on number tens, playmakers. Isaac Price remains but he is very much a versatile player who can play anywhere.

John Swift and Grady Diangana have now gone, so there looks like a real need for a number ten and I am sure that Mason will want to bolster that position.

What will be interesting is if Mason goes back to Spurs, to bring in a young loanee who could fill that void.

Forward reinforcements

Albion's striking injury issues have been well documented in recent years.

Whether it is Daryl Dike or Josh Maja, they have struggled and they have had rotten luck.

Those at Albion and Mason will want to avoid it this season, so being properly stocked in that area is going to be massive.

They need to do it, because you cannot expect Maja or Dike to be fully fit for the campaign.

Under them now you have Karlan Grant, and then kids. You need more. This is a huge area that both Andrew Nestor and Mason need to be addressing.