Under-21s midfielder Kamari Doyle was pleased to see teammates Odel Offiah and Mark O’Mahony play against Manchester City last Thursday.
Odel was brought on at the start of the second half while Mark came on for the final 15 minutes – two of ten Albion academy graduates who have played in the first team this campaign.*
“It’s very good to see them getting their chance,” Doyle said. “I have trained with those boys and played with them. They deserve it and it makes me feel like I’ll get the chance if I work hard and put in good performances.
“I have trained a few times with the first team. The more you’re over there the quicker you learn. The standard is so high, the tempo is high. But I want to play in the Premier League, so I need to get to those standards.
“I look at players who play in my position like Adam Lallana, Pascal Gross, Joao Pedro and Billy Gilmour. They’re top players. Knowing the level you need to be at is good. I try to bring that to training and the games with the under-21s.”
The 18-year-old joined us in the winter transfer window from Southampton with an injury, but has since gone onto make five Premier League 2 appearances for Shannon Ruth’s team.
“It’s taken a bit of time to settle because I was at Southampton for a long time. But I am enjoying it, I feel like I’ve bedded in well and I’ve got used to the surroundings – it’s a lovely training ground.
“The team were very welcoming and there were a few new players who joined at the same time as me which helped. It’s a good group of lads.
“I was out for nearly five months, so it was quite a long time. That was frustrating as I wasn’t fully fit when I arrived and I had to build up my fitness.
“Now I am starting to feel like I am back to full fitness. These few months has been good to get used to the environment, but next season I am going to try and comeback fit and flying.”
The under-21s are in Premier League action on Monday night against Wolves at Kiddeminster Harriers FC, and a win will confirm Albion's place in the play-offs.
*The ten are: Lewis Dunk, Solly March, Odel Offiah, Jack Hinshelwood, Cam Peupion, Benicio Baker-Boaitey, Evan Ferguson, Mark O’Mahony, Josh Duffus and Jack Hinchy.