Staking a claim and is it their time? Four West Brom players looking to shine in front of fans

Transfer business is a long way from completion and Albion will certainly have a different look about them come September 2, but that first friendly is always an exciting billing for fans.

Mason's side have already beaten Port Vale 2-0 and drawn 1-1 against Dynamo Kyiv in Austria - the latter watched by the Express & Star - but players will be eager to catch the eye of supporters at Blackpool on Saturday against the League One hosts managed by Steve Bruce at Bloomfield Road.

Here are four Baggies players for whom standing out might mean a little bit more.

Nat Phillips

Could hardly have made a bigger impression against the Ukraine champions in Austria last week. He was solid defensively, a commanding figure who won his headers with minimal fuss.

And he also made the difference in the final third. The former Liverpool stopper, an initial £1million signing, rose to power in a perfect cross from Mikey Johnston for the lead.

It will be Phillips' first outing in front of the Baggies' faithful and all parties hope it is the first of many. The level of performance will not ultimately have a bearing on too much for the season ahead, but Phillips is expected to be a linchpin in Mason's defence, so a positive first impression will serve well.

New striker Aune Heggebo, the £4.7m signing from SK Brann in Norway, is in a similar boat if handed a first run out. He was left out against Dynamo having only arrived at the club a few days earlier.

Mikey Johnston

Winger Johnston, 26, has already gone through the wringer this summer and in another world might have already been unveiled as a Flamengo player in Rio de Janeiro.

As it is, the Republic of Ireland international is with his Baggies colleagues in the Black Country and looking to get his head down and hit the ground running this season.

Johnston and fellow winger Tom Fellows have each only played 45 minutes of pre-season football in one friendly and are one game behind most of their team-mates, but both really caught the eye against Kyiv.

Johnston had an excellent impact as Fellows' replacement and set up the goal. He will want to prove he can be an improvement on last season.

Josh Griffiths

As it stands Griffiths will start the season as Albion No.1 for the first time in his short career.

The 23-year-old, who has built up an impressive CV of loan stints away from The Hawthorns, ended last season between the sticks having been given the nod in front of Joe Wildsmith, who was signed as a back-up last summer.

Griffiths has long been highly-regarded while coming through the ranks at Albion but he is yet to have a prolonged spell as first choice.

It feels like a potential now or never situation for Griffiths, who is 24 in September. An opportunity appears to have presented itself and the keeper will be determined to grasp it. It will speak volumes if Mason decides otherwise. Griffiths missed the Kyiv friendly with a minor ankle knock.

Ousmane Diakite

There are not many more popular members of the squad with supporters - especially when you consider his relative inexperience as an Albion regular.

The Malian had a pretty rough ordeal during his debut campaign, certainly in that when he built up a head of steam in the side after the Christmas departure of Carlos Corberan he then found himself back on the sidelines.

He did play during a series of games at the end of the campaign, though, and like many colleagues did little to stand out.

Diakite's trump card this summer could be a 'friendly suspension' for Jayson Molumby. Molumby still has to sit out another three friendlies for the ban received last summer. As it stands this opens the door for Diakite and he looks in the mood, if the all-action display against Kyiv is anything to go by.