Potter excited by new arrival Caicedo

Graham Potter has high hopes for new signing Moises Caicedo but will give the midfielder time to settle into English football.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who joined Albion on Monday from Ecuadorian club Independiente after signing a contract until June 2025, is one of the most highly regarded young players in South America.

He became the first player born this century to score a goal in South American World Cup qualifiers when he netted against Uruguay in his second appearance for Ecuador, days after making his debut against Argentina.

Potter describes him as a 'physical and athletic, box to box midfielder with dynamic movement who is a little bit different to what we have.'

But as he did with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Potter will be patient as his new player settles in.

“At the moment I think it's one for the future because the last time he played was mid-December, so he's been on a break. It was quite a complex deal so we will have to be patient and give him time to adapt to a new country, new team and new league. But he's an exciting, young player.

“I wouldn't put any expectations for the next couple of months other than allowing him to adapt. He's not coming in to fix any problems that's for sure but there is no plan to send him out on loan, he will be with us, acclimatising and settling in.”

Potter is excited that Caicedo could be the latest young talent developed for Albion's first team.

“We know we're not a development club, we're in the Premier League and we have to get results, but we've done quite well in terms of a pathway for younger players into the first team. 

“But for us to be competitive longer term, we have to sign players that haven't necessarily reached their potential and to help them get there. That's how we'll grow as a club and that's exciting.

“It's not easy, there is a lot of work involved taking a young person from the other side of the world and expecting everything to go smoothly but that's what we're prepared to do.”