Moore taking time out to reflect on start
ALBION boss Darren Moore hopes the international break has given his troops time to “lick their wounds” and come back stronger.
The club’s non-internationals were given several days off following the 4-1 win over Reading and returned to light training on Saturday.
And Moore believes the break in play came at just the right time.
“It’s certainly been a welcome break for us, but also a time to reflect and get all aspects, team shape, in possession, out of possession and touch base on those,” said the head coach.
“It gives the opportunity to one or two to lick their wounds, it gives the opportunity to one or two on the treatment table to try and get them back and it gives the ones on the fringes a bit more fitness work to get them back.”
Matt Phillips is Moore’s only fitness worry at present. The wing-back has missed the last three matches with a muscle strain, but he is on the road to recovery and likely to be available for Saturday’s trip to Wigan. New signing Bakary Sako is eagerly awaiting his first chance and could be involved at the DW Stadium if he can prove his fitness this week.
Egypt’s Ahmed Hegazi was the only Albion player to receive a senior call-up in the current international fixtures.
None of Albion’s Scottish trio – Phillips, James Morrison and Oliver Burke – were called up.
But there has been plenty of recognition from England’s age-group selectors with seven players drafted in from Under-21 down to Under-16 level.
That figure would have been higher had Rayhaan Tulloch not been a surprise omission from the Under-18s squad. Only Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Everton have supplied more players.
“That’s testament to the work we do at the club and the players’ qualities as well,” said Albion’s Under-23s boss, Jamie Smith.
“Although we do a lot of work on the grass, the players have got to have the right quality and attitude to progress as well.”
Sam Field and Kyle Edwards featured for England Under-20s in their 2-1 win over Italy last week, while Reekem Harper played the final half-hour of the Under-19s’ eye-catching 4-1 victory in Portugal. Edwards is the latest academy graduate to taste Championship football after making his debut against Reading.
“That is the most pleasing part of the job – when you see those players who you have worked with progress and get into the first team,” Smith
added.