Over the past couple of seasons, West Bromwich Albion have held a reputation for being a side full of Championship-experienced veterans.
Indeed, during the last campaign, the likes of Kyle Bartley, Jed Wallace, John Swift, and Josh Maja all lined up for the Baggies regularly, with Wallace and Swift alone boasting a mighty 699 career appearances in the EFL’s elite setting.
However, with many of that old guard leaving this summer, Ryan Mason looks to be steering the Baggies in a new direction, with the head coach himself cutting a youthful appearance at just 34 years of age.
Moreover, there is far more youth on show in Mason’s XI’s since taking on the Hawthorns hot-seat, instead of relying on those seasoned heads to get the West Midlands outfit out of trouble.
West Brom’s focus on youth
Even the choice to hand Mason the head coach reins was a sign of West Brom going for a fresh approach, having previously had the instantly recognisable face of Tony Mowbray in charge, who has managed all over the second tier.
The decision to hand Mason the manager gig has somewhat worked, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur coach already four wins down, as he goes about stamping his authority on the West Brom ranks.
Mason has been unafraid to start the likes of 21-year-old Toby Collyer in the middle of the park, who is on loan at the Hawthorns for the season from Manchester United, alongside getting a goal already out of fellow Premier League loan starlet Samuel Iling-Junior, who is just 22 himself.
Even man of the moment Isaac Price – who has three goals and one assist to his name already – isn’t the most vastly experienced presence, with the former Everton youth prodigy only 22 years of age as well, despite his assured nature in the Baggies’ first-team set-up.
Away from the senior scene, the West Brom U21 ranks are also home to some encouraging talents that could soon be ready to break through into the first team fold.
One starlet – in particular – looks to possess both elements of both Price’s skilful game, but also ex-Baggies favourite Tom Fellows’ unselfish approach bombing forward.
West Brom starlet is shades of Price & Fellows
It should be noted that Mason should be commended – despite some tricky matches as of late – for how he’s managed to settle into the pressures of the West Brom job without Fellows around.
After all, across the entirety of last season, the homegrown ace would chip in with a bumper four goals and 14 assists in all competitions.
Unfortunately, relegated Southampton would take a fancy to the assist-heavy 22-year-old this summer, leaving Mason with a Fellows-less reality when he took on the challenging gig.
Thankfully, Price has since taken on the baton of being a gung-ho star down the channels, but with his form wavering – posting zero goals or assists since a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth towards the close of August – Mason could be tempted to test out academy sensation Ollie Bostock more regularly, as yet another promising asset emerges in midfield.
Already, despite making just one appearance for the West Brom senior side, journalists Johnny Drury and Lewis Cox have hyped Bostock as being a second coming of the brand-new Saints number 18, labelling him as “the next Fellows.”
Based on that whirlwind cameo, he could soon go on to be a surprise regular in Mason’s squad.
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Bostock cameo vs Millwall |
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|---|---|
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Stat |
Bostock |
|
Minutes played |
1 |
|
Touches |
5 |
|
Accurate passes |
2/2 |
|
Accurate crosses |
1/1 |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Total duels won |
1/2 |
|
Stats by Sofascore |
|
Away from only being on the Den turf for one minute, the Wales U19 international would show off a similar keenness to cut open a defence that Fellows used to show in spades in the West Midlands, registering one key pass , despite only amassing a meagre five touches.
With seven goals and four assists also under his belt for both the U18s and U21s, it could well be time for the “magical” youngster – as he was once lauded by academy manager Richard Stevens – to have his breakout moment in the first-team spotlight.
After all, in the debris after the 3-0 defeat to Millwall, Mason spoke glowingly about the Welsh teenager, saying that he is “a part of the squad” now.
In time, he could be as jaw-dropping to watch as both Price and Fellows, with a big career potentially ahead for the 18-year-old.
