'I don't even think about the competition' Caleb Taylor on West Brom breakthrough battle
Defender Caleb Taylor has underlined his determination to force a breakthrough season at Albion.
Taylor, 22, has long been seen as a top prospect at The Hawthorns and has built up impressive experience on his CV with loans at a trio of League One clubs in Cheltenham, Bolton and Wycombe.
The centre-back excelled on a most recent stint at the Chairboys last term, either side of a brief January recall with Albion temporarily low on numbers.
Now Taylor's brief to push into Ryan Mason's starting thoughts is a tough one. Albion have player of the season Torbjorn Heggem in that position, as well as new recruit from Liverpool Nat Phillips and an ageing Kyle Bartley. The club are also finalising a deal to sign Montreal's US international George Campbell, a versatile defender capable of playing centrally.
"I've done three loans now," Taylor said. "I said this last year but I really do feel like I'm ready.
"I've played around 100 games now, with league clubs, I feel like I have the experience.
"I believe in my capability to play here. I'm really going to try to push this season and try to break through to become a regular first-team player.
The academy graduate added of last season: "I got what I wanted in that at the start of the season. I wanted to play football after the previous year of not playing a lot because of injury.
"I would've liked to have played at West Brom, but the second-best thing was going on loan."
Taylor, son of former Blues stopper Martin, has been part of two promotion tilts while on loan, at Bolton and Wycombe.
"You always have that growing up, even when I was 10 or 11, there is always competition and you've always got to fight against others," he said of his confidence at a senior Albion breakthrough.
"You're always fighting for a one-year or two-year contract when you're 12 or 13. It's built into your brain you've got to be the best out of the group you are with.
"So I don't even think about the competition. It's natural. I just know if I give my everything and work as hard as I can I don't really mind what happens."
The defender, linked with Millwall this summer, signed a new four-year deal last summer.
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