West Brom skipper has eyes on future

The potential of the club's youth ranks was highlighted last season by winger Tom Fellows, who forced his way into the first team and became a key player.

Albion have suffered over recent years with several young players poached by Villa but Wallace flagged the current crop's emergence, including highly regarded defender Caleb Taylor and goalkeeper Josh Griffiths.

Other youngsters including full-back pair Ethan Ingram and Zac Ashworth, both 21, and starlet midfielder Harry Whitwell, 18, could be leaned on as Corberan goes about beefing his numbers after several out-of-contract exits.

"Tom's been amazing," Wallace said of his fellow winger Fellows. "He did OK at Crawley (on loan) the year before and for him to come in for us and do as well as he has, I'm delighted for him.

"He's such a nice lad, I'm really happy for him, as with Caleb Taylor, Josh Griffiths, Palms (graduate Alex Palmer) who plays every single game.

"There's a lot of lads who have come through the academy here and it's important. You need those lads that care deeply for the club and have that association from when they were kids."

Wallace was used as a makeshift striker to lead the line as Albion fell at the final hurdle before the play-off final, with defeat at Southampton in the semi-final.

The 30-year-old, who has two years left on the four-year deal he agreed in 2022, added: "I think everyone showed the same honesty. I couldn't tell you one player that hasn't showed a level of commitment.

"Even the likes of Erik (Pieters, who has since been released on a free transfer), travelling around the country, he could've easily not done that when out the squad and out of contract, but it's the sort of lads they are. The West Brom fans aren't stupid, they can see when someone's giving it their all.

"I think the moment at the end of the Southampton game they realised everyone's given it everything we could. It was a nice moment from the fans and players to feel that united bit."