Max O'Leary on a goalkeeper's peak, West Brom's young pups and support from club and boss

O’Leary agreed a three-year contract this summer and hopes to make the No.1 shirt his own after starring in the club’s push to safety under James Morrison in the spring.

The former Bristol City man is in pole position ahead of veteran summer recruit Matt Ingram to be first choice, though some supporters have questioned whether the goalkeeper department requires further stocking during the window.

O’Leary, who is 30 in October, feels he is entering the peak years of his career and takes inspiration from fellow keepers who have found their best form on the other side of 30.

“You see people peak at different times, don't you?” O’Leary said.

“You see someone like Tommy Heaton (40-year-old Manchester United former Villa and Burnley keeper) probably peaked in his mid-thirties.

“I feel good, I feel fit, I feel strong, so I'm ready to attack it.”

O’Leary’s form in the second half of last season, including eight season sheets in 16 appearances, was rewarded by a long-term deal this summer.

He was brought in from Ashton Gate in the winter window with Albion struggling between the sticks with Josh Griffiths and Joe Wildsmith, who both left this summer.

“You want to feel wanted at a football club and the club showed that,” O’Leary said. “We worked well together, and I think we were all happy on both sides. I was definitely keen and happy to do it.”

O’Leary looks to have replaced Griffiths after the later made a £600,000 exit to Stoke this summer. O’Leary praised academy graduate Stoke for the way he welcomed him to The Hawthorns amid the struggle in January.

The two-cap Republic of Ireland man smiled as he described the “old boys room” for Albion’s pre-season training camp in Portugal last week, featuring himself and deputy Ingram, 32.

O’Leary said it is “good to have competition” regarding Ingram’s move.

Former Wycombe and Oxford shot-stopper Ingram was only a deputy with the U’s and has not tasted regular action since he was a regular for three years at Hull between 2020 and 2023.

The Baggies have a good crop of burgeoning youngsters with hometown man Ben Cisse, 20, and New Zealander Joe Wallis, 21, leading the way.

For the second year running the duo joined the pre-season camp overseas.

“They're both talented boys, and we laugh and joke with them, give them a hard time,” O’Leary said.

“But I think it was a lot tougher when I was younger! So they've got it nice and easy now, they don’t have to do as much as we had to years ago.

“They're both really talented goalkeepers and I think getting some games under their belt, whether that be here or out on loan, would be really beneficial.

“It’s hard now, you need a squad of players, and to be in and around it for them in the first-team environments is as valuable as being out doing pre-season on loan somewhere, so it might be something that comes later on in their careers.

“But I'd like to see how they do being out there and playing some games, I'm sure they do great.”