The eight West Brom starlets handed a chance to impress by James Morrison

Albion started pre-season with a routine 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Burton’s St George’s Park.

The clash, behind closed doors, offered boss James Morrison the opportunity to assess his squad - including several burgeoning youngsters - in competitive action.

Academy graduate winger Ollie Bostock, who caught the eye in senior displays last season, returned from under-19s European Championship duties with Wales too late to feature but has joined colleagues in Portugal for the training camp.

This is a run through of all the young talent given a shot by Morrison during the friendly and for the weeks ahead.

Jamal Mohammed

Towering central defender, 20, has long been an intriguing prospect at The Hawthorns and first caught the eye around the senior set-up three years ago when handed a pre-season runout by Carlos Corberan.

The burly defender, who stands at 6ft 5ins, has all the creative footwork of a creative schemer, but it is defensively he is tasked to finding more solidity and consistency.

Mohammed benefitted from a good loan at non-league Gloucester to see out last season and signed a new one-year deal this summer.

Matty Crowther

A more surprise starter against the Owls, rangy midfielder Crowther made the big step from the amateur scene of the Sunderland Sunday league circuit two years ago.

The 18-year-old was brought to Albion by Morrison, then a youth coach, and now the Baggies boss has handed him a chance to impress after an eye-catching 18 months with the under-21s.

Harry Whitwell

A more familiar name and face to Baggies fans. Whitwell, who is 21 in November, has been touted as a top prospect since he was 16.

The Oxford-born midfielder had a sample of life on loan last season and thrived at Forest Green in the National League before injuries prompted a recall. Likelihood here is, after pre-season, he will have another opportunity on loan to catch the eye.

Cole Deeming

Former season ticket holder and boyhood Baggie Deeming, 19, is an exciting central midfield talent who made big strides last season, ending it on loan in League Two with Cheltenham.

Deeming has a lot of quality with a gifted left foot and the likelihood is he will feature throughout pre-season, and like Whitwell potentially in EFL Cup ties, before a call on another loan.

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Souleyman Mandey

Austria youth international Mandey, 20, made great strides last season - so much so he made his senior debut for the club on the final day at Sheffield Wednesday.

The attacking midfielder’s output in front of goal for Leigh Downing’s under-21s was tough to ignore. He is a prospect with plenty of confidence and inventiveness in his game.

Alfie Maughan

Full-back Maughan, 18 last month, made huge strides last term after a brilliant season at under-18s prior to that.

At the club since the age of six, he is very much one to watch with real excitement in the ranks at his ability with the ball. Loves to get up and attack with dead ball quality to boot.

Alex Williams

Right-back Williams, 21, made his senior debut last August before progress was cruelly cut short by injury.

He fared well and, under contract until 2028, will be keen to ensure regular football comes his way soon. Albion currently lack options in his position.

Jack Bray

An interesting prospect, striker Bray, 19, moved to The Hawthorns last summer after fine form for Harrogate against the Baggies’ under-18s side.

He had some good moments in his first season, albeit one disrupted by injury. They included a double against Juventus and a hat-trick against Blues in March. It is interesting to see him among the senior cohort - his progress will be worth monitoring.

Goalkeeper duo Joe Wallis and Ben Cisse were unused substitutes for the clash in Staffordshire.