John Morling says Premier League 2 is of huge benefit to up-and-coming players.
Against Leeds United last Saturday, Albion had nine players - Lewis Dunk, Solly March, Robert Sanchez, Ben White, Christian Walton, Steven Alzate, Teddy Jenks, Reda Khadra and Max Sanders - in the squad who have played academy football, seven of whom played PL2 football regularly.
“The 23s league is of a very high standard – particularly technically and tactically,” Morling said. “It doesn't give you the first team experience that a League One or Two game might give you with a crowd, but it is definitely of a high standard with highly elite players and coaches within it.
“However, that alone might not give you what you need to get into the first team here. That's why we like having a system that offers a lot of variety of games, as well the opportunity to go on loan.
“Between a combination of a varied games programme, loans and first team training, we are able to give a player what they need to succeed and each player is different. You've got to have a bit of everything.”
Credit, according to Morling, has to go to the Premier League for making under-23s football more competitive than it was previously.
“They have done a great job in reinventing Premier League 2 with promotion and relegation as well as the International Cup. We've got the EFL Trophy, which is excellent and if we could have more games of that ilk then we would embrace it 100 per cent.
“It's not possible to have a B team playing in League Two or a possible fifth tier, so we have got to do the best we can with what we have.
“We have often used local non-league clubs to give players a taste of something different during their under-18 season which has been really beneficial, but it's not as easy as just sending players out on loan, we have 20 under-23s in the building as a working group and right out on loan in the League pyramid or abroad, so we cannot let them all go on loan at the same time.
“It's important we have a competitive under-23s team, to keep the training standard high in order for the players development. It is also important to have players in the building so that if Graham Potter needs anyone there is enough quality in the squad to support the first-team group.
“As David Weir has previously said, going on loan maybe a part of one players journey and not another, it's what right for the player and the club at that particular time.”
The under-23s return to action this Friday with a trip to Arsenal