James Morrison 'not afraid' - but lays down challenge to West Brom youth

The new Baggies boss spent several years coaching in the youth set-up after hanging up his boots in 2019.

Morrison handed first-team debuts to youngsters Eseosa Sule and Souleyman Mandey in the final weeks of the Championship season as Albion scraped survival.

The head coach knows more than most the significance and level of talent Albion’s academy can produce and is willing to give opportunities where they are merited.

“I'm not afraid to use the academy, but it's got to work both ways,” Morrison said.

“They've got to show me that they're ready.”

Morrison handed wing prospect Ollie Bostock, 19, just a second league start on the final day in defeat at Sheffield Wednesday. The Wales youth international and senior colleagues struggled on a disappointing afternoon at Hillsborough.

Bostock enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at The Hawthorns and made nine senior appearances in all. Two of his three senior starts have come in league action in Sheffield, at Bramall Lane and Hillsborough.

Exciting attacking midfielder Mandey, 20, enjoyed a cameo from the bench for his debut in the season’s farewell, as reward for 10 goals for the under-21s this season for the Austrian.

Scottish striker Sule, 20, remained an unused substitute but made his Baggies bow in the goalless draw at home to Millwall on April 10.

“I would have liked to put them all on, really,” Morrison said of the last-day clash. “First of all I was playing to win. I wasn't playing for sentimental stuff.

“So the result obviously hampered Eseosa getting on.

“Sule probably deserved that with his under-21s performances, so he can take credit for that and use it as fuel for next season.”