Pulis: Cash, not call-ups, the key to luring stars
TONY Pulis is delighted so many of his players have received international recognition, but doesn’t believe the call-ups will have any bearing on Albion’s ability to lure top talent.
The Baggies have nine players on senior duty with their countries, Jake Livermore’s excellent start to life in the Midlands earning him the nod for England.
That figure would be ten had Matt Phillips not been forced to withdraw from the Scotland squad with a hamstring injury.
But Pulis does not feel the rise of his players to international level will help the club attract a higher calibre of player in the summer.
“I’d love to say that’s the case,” he said. “But it’s pounds, shillings and pence more than anything else. That’s the reality of it.”
Livermore will hope to win his second cap when England take on world champions Germany in a friendly in Dortmund tonight.
The 27-year-old is one of eight Albion players called up by the home nations and Ireland.
Pulis admits their call-ups could at least inspire the other players already at The Hawthorns.
“It’s an uplift for them again and something for them to aim for,” he said. “That’s what you want.
“We’ve got Fletcher, Morrison, the Irish contingent, all playing for their countries.
“Jake comes in and he’s playing for England. We’ve got Hal playing for Wales as well – we’re actually a Great Britain team.”
There is also an international flavour to the Albion squad.
Nacer Chadli, drafted into the Belgium squad for the games against Greece and Russia, Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon and Argentinian Claudio Yacob have all played their part in an encouraging campaign.
Pulis feels he’s found the right formula and a league of nations that works well together.
“We’ve got Yac and Salomon in there,” he said. “The lads from South America have been fantastic. It’s a good mixture.
“The Premier League is a world league full of world players so you have to make sure you marry it together. The weakest person in the group you have to help through.
“I’d say Matty (was) at the beginning. You give them help and then the next thing you know they’re leading the group and not being carried.”