Skipper Lewis Dunk has hailed the impact of Albion’s academy after describing Jack Hinshelwood as ‘incredible’ in Thursday’s Europa League win over AEK Athens.
Hinshelwood was man of the match according to head coach Roberto De Zerbi for his mature performance on a night when the 18-year-old became the youngest Englishman to debut in the competition since Jude Bellingham in 2022.
Dunk made his Albion debut as a teenager but says there is a big difference to that and what Hinshelwood achieved.
“It’s incredible. Me at 19 making my debut in League One was slightly different to them at that age, they are making their debuts and playing in the Europa League.
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“It shows where the club has come from and the faith the manager has got in those young guys and the quality the academy is bringing through.
“Jack Hinshelwood was incredible. He has had three games now and probably the three toughest games we have had all year. At Aston Villa away we all let him down and then on Saturday at Nottingham Forest I stupidly got sent off and it was backs to the wall and he has dug in.
“He has come in at left-back and put an outstanding performance in again. He played out of position but it just epitomises the player he is and the great future he as ahead of him.”
As well as Hinshelwood, striker Joshua Duffus made his first-team debut for the last few minutes and also impressed as Albion got the job done.
Albion now entertain Marseille on 14 December needing to win to top the group. Any other result would mean Albion finishing second and going into a two-legged play-off in February to try and qualify for the last 32.
“That’s our next ambition in this competition to top the group,” said Dunk. “It’s massive because you miss a round out.”