West Brom academy star ready to make step up

Whitwell, an 18-year-old midfielder who has been with Albion since under-11 level, marked his senior debut in style with an assist for fellow youngster Tom Fellows, as the Baggies completed a 4-1 rout over Aldershot Town in the FA Cup third round.

That remains his only taste of first team football to date, although he has been named on the bench on a handful of occasions over the course of the past 12 months.

Despite his dream debut, patience is the key to success – according to Whitwell.

“Everything has gone really well for me coming into full-time football. Signing a pro deal so soon into my scholar was recognition for how I’d been doing,” he revealed. “You see other players around my age possibly breaking through but for me it’s just been about getting better every day.

“Everyone’s pathway is different. I’ve had to bide my time a little bit more but it’s almost good, in a way, because it’s given me the time to develop behind closed doors and hopefully I can show that if given the chance next season, or if I go out on loan elsewhere.”

Whitwell signed his first professional deal on his 17th birthday in November 2022 and went on to win the Baggies’ prestigious Academy Player of the Year award in 2022/23.

The teenager has trained with Carlos Corberan’s squad on a number of occasions and feels that juggling his first team exploits with his under-21 duties has helped keep him grounded.

“All the senior lads are really good with the younger boys, you’ve got a mix of styles, some put their arm around you, for me (Kyle) Bartley is really good, Brandon (Thomas-Asante) is really good,” he continued. “Then you have others who don’t say as much but if you do something good they say well done and that almost means more.

“I think working with the gaffer, he’s obviously so detailed with his tactics. Every time you are with them you are just learning tenfold, you’re so impressed with the detail.

“It doesn’t happen often but every now and then he will give you a nod or something, and those mean more because you have impressed him and that feeling is un- beatable.

“Hopefully I am impressing when I’m training and keep trying to show I can maybe compete at that level and get chances in the future.”