NO Jonny go as Evans handed Albion armband
JONNY Evans is the new Albion captain for the 2017/2018 season. The news was confirmed by Baggies boss Tony Pulis in Hong Kong where the club were preparing for their Premier League Trophy Asia warm-up games.
Pulis explained why he has chosen Evans as skipper – and put to bed any talk of him leaving the club.
He said: “Jonny Evans is staying with West Bromwich Albion. There is no doubt about that.
“Jonny will be our captain next season.
“He had a fantastic year last season and I’m hoping he steps up now.
“He’s not had the responsibility before, to being a captain around the club.
“It’s an important job and it’s about looking after the players and looking after the dressing room and if we get issues in the dressing room I will be expecting him to sort it out.”
Meanwhile, Pulis says Albion have struck the “perfect deal” for Ahmed Hegazi. He believes the structure of the loan benefits parties.
Hegazi completed his seasonlong switch from Egyptian champions Al Ahly on Monday and has joined his new team-mates in Hong Kong.
Albion hold an option to buy the 26-year-old centre-back if he impresses in his first season in English football. It’st’s an arrangement Pulis lis believes works well l for all concerned.
“It’s a magnificent deal for us as a football club and it gives us the opportunity to see if he can adapt to the Premier League,”e,” he said.
“We didn’t want to take the chance of signing him on a permanent deal because you just don’t know the character and understanding of English football, English tradition and the English values of life.
“We have got it all tied in with the club that if we like him we can take him.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the lad.
“We’ve been looking at him for all a long time and we’ve managed to get the deal we wanted. “So I think we’ve got the perfect deal and you don’t get them too often.” Hegazi is Albion’s second signing for the forthcoming season following the £12 million arrival of striker Jay Rodriguez from Southampton.p Rod Rodriguez was dog dogged by injuries at Southampton b but Pulis is confident the 27-yearold is the right fit for the Baggies. “Jay, up until h he got his injury, wa was playing for Engla England and you’re looking at an extraordinary talent when he was at Southampton,” he said. “I’ve spoken to a lot of people who have worked with him and, apart from those ravenous injuries, everyone will tell you he’s a fantastic character. “He works hard and his goalscoring speaks for itself. There’s no question we need more competition up front and he’ll bring that competition.”