'He's going to play a lot of games' West Brom boss explains right-back call with Alfie Gilchrist omitted

Right-back Gilchrist, 21, was a £1.2million recruit from Chelsea late in the summer transfer window as Albion moved to replace Darnell Furlong, who made a sudden switch to Ipswich in a £4m deal.

But the former Stamford Bridge prospect is having to bide his time to make an impression at his new club and only made his debut with a cameo in last Wednesday's 1-0 win at Norwich.

Gilchrist once again remained an unused substitute in Saturday's 3-0 collapse at Millwall, as Mason revealed left-back Charlie Taylor's absence through injury meant minimal changes elsewhere in the backline were decided against.

"Alfie's got the same importance as everyone in the squad," Mason told the Express & Star. "He's part of our squad. We're certainly going to use him.

"He came in pretty much on deadline day and the team kept a clean sheet on Wednesday night, an away clean sheet.

"A change was enforced with Charlie going down injured. There's always that decision when you keep a clean sheet, with continuity. We had to change Charlie and to change another one disrupts a lot.

"Alfie's a key member of our squad and he's certainly going to play a lot of games for us."

Mason previously said Gilchrist was getting up to speed following his late transfer.

Gilchrist made 17 senior appearances for boyhood club Chelsea after a debut in December 2023 and even netted in the Premier League later that season.

The academy graduate, who was previously a centre-back and idolised John Terry before he was switched to right-back, started two top flight games for Chelsea in all.

He was loaned out for a first regular taste of senior football to Championship outfit Sheffield United last season, with mixed fortunes.

Gilchrist was a regular for the Blades in the first half of the season but he barely featured after January after Chris Wilder's signed loaned Harry Clarke from Ipswich and turned to youngster Femi Seriki. He played 32 times in all.