West Brom's Max O'Leary lays out expectations for new season

The goalkeeper agreed a three-year contract towards the end of May as he committed his future at The Hawthorns.

O’Leary, 29, signed a short-term contract after leaving Bristol City in January and played a key role in the push for survival under James Morrison as he kept eight clean sheets in 16 games as Albion climbed to 21st.

“I think we're just looking up, of course,” O’Leary told the Express & Star.

“Everyone's disappointed where we finished, and there's got to be reasonable expectations, but there's no number set on where we want to be.

“I think what brought us success last year was taking it game by game, and really building that momentum.

“So hopefully we can take bits of last year and put them into this year, and then get building it again.

“But we want to be looking up, and of course, with the expanded play-offs, you can be challenging towards that top end, hopefully, so I'm looking forward to it.”

Albion goalkeeper department has had a revamp with Josh Griffiths’ exit to Stoke. The experienced Matt Ingram has checked in from Oxford, likely as O’Leary’s deputy.

The Republic of Ireland international is determined to ensure he grasps every opportunity that comes his way to nail down the No.1 shirt.

“Yes, of course, (though) nothing's guaranteed in football,” he added. “So I've got to, if I get the chance, try to take it and make it my own.

“Matt's come in, obviously it's some good competition to have as well.

“Josh left, and he was great at the end of last season with me, he helped me settle in, despite being younger than me! He brought me into the group with open arms, which was nice.”

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