Teddy Jenks is eager for more after getting a taste of the first-team environment at Albion.
Jenks, 18, is a dynamic box-to-box midfielder who has been training with the first-team squad since they returned last month in preparation for the resumption of the Premier League. His career took another step forward on Wednesday when he signed a three-year contract.
“Being with the first team squad has helped me massively,” he said. “When you are in the under-23s you might train with the senior players once a month so to see how dedicated they are on a daily basis has really helped me improve my own game quite a lot.”
Jenks will be with the squad during pre-season in August and hopes to impress enough to stay there. If not, he may go out on loan to gain more experience, following in the footsteps of Ben White, Jayson Molumby and Max Sanders who have all enjoyed productive spells with EFL clubs this season.
“If I can do as well as I can in pre-season then hopefully I can get into the first-team squad but if not I would be looking at some first team experience somewhere,” he added.
Jenks played regularly for the under-23s last season and says he learned a lot from playing alongside the experienced Andrew Crofts, who acts as an on-the-pitch mentor to some of the younger players.
“He has been brilliant,” said Jenks. “He trains hard every day so leads by example and has helped every one of us. His game management, especially in the really tough under-23 matches, around things like his position on the pitch and what he does to protect the ball gives you a lot more confidence.
“As have [Head of Academy] John Morling and [Under-23 Head Coach] Simon Rusk. They know when I need to do better and when I needed encouraging. I can’t thank all the coaches enough and I am looking forward to working with them in the future.”
As well as improving on the pitch Jenks feels he’s got better off it as well. He said, “I had to improve my physicality because I wouldn’t have got a chance to play for the under-23s last season because there are some big boys in that league. So I worked hard in the gym and got stronger and fitter so I could compete at that level.”