Professional development phase coach James Baxter is looking forward to having a full squad to pick from for the first time this season.
Albion’s interim under-18s boss has seen his squad disrupted by injury, but he should have a full complement to pick from by the end of the international break.
He said “It’s been stop-start, not just with Covid-19 but with injuries, we’ve had a few boys who haven’t kicked a ball yet.
“But by the end of this international break we will have everyone available. As is the case with academy football, we’ve also had five or six train with the 23s and first team. The start of the season has been really pleasing in that aspect.”
Albion have won their opening group games in the group stages of both Premier League Under-17s and Under-18s cup competitions, while they sit sixth after six games in Premier League South.
“We’ve got a very good group – we’ve got second years who won the Premier League Under-17s Cup last season and there’s a good intake of first years,” added Baxter.
“We’re in and around the top teams in the league table at this early stage. We’ve had wins in the Under-17s and Under-18s cup competitions, so it’s been a good start. We want to play a good brand of football with the foundation of a having winning mentality. We want to retain the under-17s cup and to do well in the under-18s cup.”
The under-18s’ league form has seen them win 7-1 at West Brom, followed by 5-3 a defeat to Aston Villa.
“The only thing that is consistent in youth football is young players are inconsistent, so it’s how we learn and adapt from that,” Baxter added. “It’s a learning curve as much for staff as it is players. It’s important that it’s not all plain sailing and that sometimes you question yourself and learn from that. It shows that there is room for development.
“We have a very talented group and that is because a really good job is done by a lot of people working in the academy. That’s reflected in those boys having their chance with the under-23s.”