Albion’s pathway development manager David Weir believes that the players who had successful loan spells last season can push for a place in the first-team squad.
Several players spent time with clubs in the EFL or in Europe and are now back ready for the start of pre-season training and Weir has outlined what happens next.
He said, “It’s now Graham Potter’s job to assess his squad and his options, to try and see which player ticks as many boxes as possible. The lads have done their bit and I am sure a few of them will be in and around his thoughts, but not everyone can be. That’s why we see the benefit of the players being able to go out and get experience in other places.
“If they’re not ready for us, then we can get them out playing and getting them to the next level. We want them to be pushing on all the time and I think these lads realise that.
“If it’s not at our club then we need to get them on loan somewhere impressing another manager. Some will have to be more patient than others, but they have all got a willingness to be part of the manager’s team in the Premier League.”
The loan system has been an excellent way of getting young Albion players to flourish away from the Amex with the work done at academy level in preparing them important, according to Weir.
“It’s about those players developing. They will have learnt from different managers and the important thing is to show that you can adapt to what these coaches ask, to fit into the group, to get into the team and be able to perform.
“They have got to have an understanding of what is expected of them, to get used to their surroundings and be ready to go into whatever situation they might be faced with. That’s a huge part of going out loan - adapting, fitting in and coping with the circumstances that you find yourself in.
“The players who have out on loan have done really well with that which is credit to the academy in terms of the players that they are producing for us.
“The majority of the lads have been playing at really high levels and have had really positive seasons. It’s been very encouraging and there has been a lot of individual development by each player. We are very happy how they have improved and that they’re definitely closer to being in our first team.”