Tony Mowbray’s frustration when it comes to West Brom youth assessment.
Albion boss Tony Mowbray is looking forward to a chance to run the rule over the club’s bright prospects in the coming weeks.
Albion under-21s, managed by Richard Beale, are in action over the next two Monday evenings, where head coach Mowbray will cast a keen eye over the next generation.
Midfielder Harry Whitwell, 19, and winger Ollie Bostock, 17, are among the jewels in Albion’s academy crown at the moment.Both have made an impression on staff for some time and been part of the senior training set-up. Whitwell made his first team debut more than a year ago in the FA Cup and Wales youth international captain Bostock is making great strides for the under-21s.
“I know Rich Stevens (academy manager) really well from my time at Coventry, where he was,” said Mowbray. “We speak about these youngsters and they come up and train with us if we need extra numbers with a few injuries.
“I can brush my eye over them in sessions but those are more about the first team trying to get shape and organisation, rather than the kids and opposing team stopping them.
“What I need is an under-21 or under-18 game to watch them. My intention is to watch every under-21s home game if I can.”
Albion senior players have taken note of the youngsters. Bostock scored a stunner for the under-18s last week as Leigh Downing’s side reached the FA Youth Cup quarter-final and Mowbray revealed his squad have asked about the tricky winger.
Talks were ongoing a couple of weekends ago to send midfielder Whitwell a first senior loan to League Two outfit Cheltenham Town, but the move was not finalised.
