Four key men ahead of new West Brom campaign

We have selected four players who stand to be key men for Albion's prospects of a promotion bid in the 2025/26 season.

Josh Griffiths

​​​​The academy graduate goalkeeper, 23, has had to show patience to wait for his opportunity to start the season as Albion No.1.

That has been his aspiration for many years and, unless there is a movement in the goalkeeping department in the last month of the window, Griffiths has his opportunity here.

The keeper finished last season as first-choice and will be determined to show head coach Mason and supporters he is more than capable.

Albion will hope the loss of Alex Palmer to Ipswich at the beginning of 2025 will not derail the 2025/26 campaign.

Torbjorn Heggem

Last season's two-times player of the year winner in his debut campaign at Albion - Heggem will go some way to repeat his maiden season in English football.

The hope from an Albion perspective is that the Norwegian can produce a similarly consistent season with more of a settled backline around him.

The likelihood is that new recruit Nat Phillips has been brought to the club as Heggem's natural partner as an ageing Kyle Bartley, who at 34 has not trained fully this summer, takes a back seat. Caleb Taylor, 22, is also pushing.

Heggem has the confidence and experience of a year behind him and can be a linchpin for the Baggies once more.

Tom Fellows

Like Heggem, there has been speculation and suggestion of interest in Fellows this summer.

In Fellows' case, however, the external expectation of a move away was stronger. The general feeling is if Fellows remains an Albion player come September 2 the Baggies have done well.

If he stays at the club he has progressed through the academy of and heads into a second full season it can be a real shot in the arm for Mason.

The 21-year-old jointly-topped the division's assist charts last term and will be stronger for a first season under his belt and his efforts with England under-21s in their European success this summer.

Expect him to have a big season and be a real star - Albion will hope it is with them.

Josh Maja

This time last year striker Maja was gearing up for a dream start to the season - a hat-trick on the opening day away at QPR.

The first half of his season could hardly have gone any better until a stress-related leg injury struck in early January and required surgery. It wrecked the rest of his season - and partly as a result Albion's - and Maja is still training to overcome the issue now.

The striker, 26, is expected to be fully fit for the start of the season and the hope is he can hold of the fitness issues that have plagued his 2025 so far.

Maja is, at it stands, supported by Daryl Dike - himself back fit after injury hell - and new-boy Aune Heggebo. If all are available it is quite the trio.