Baggies set to join Liverpool and Foxes in Asia Trophy

ALBION are set to compete in the Premier League Asia Trophy as part of their pre-season plans.

The Baggies are expected to contest the tournament alongside Liverpool, Leicester and Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG.

No date has yet been set but it’s thought the tournament will be held in late July.

Unlike in previous years, there will be no final, with Albion likely to play one match in Hong Kong and one in China, home to club owner Guochuan Lai.

Tony Pulis has, however, no plans to abandon his punishing early July training camp in Austria, which has become infamous among the players.

“One thing we’ll be absolutely certain on is that we will go to Austria and do those ten days I always do,” he said.

“The players are looking forward to that again!

“Whatever Mr Lai wants to do in respect of going to China or whatever, those ten days won’t be missed. They can’t be missed.”

Lai flew over for the win over Arsenal on Saturday and Pulis plans to return the favour by jetting out to China with Albion chairman John Williams at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Darren Fletcher insisted Albion were determined to get a win against Arsenal because of the idea the players were “on the beach” having reached the 40-point milestone.

The Baggies had lost their previous two matches to Crystal Palace and Everton and there were fears that, like last season, the campaign could slow up in the run-in.

“People talk about us being on the beach at 40 points – that’s why that Arsenal game was so important,’’ said Fletcher. “We don’t want the season to peter out. We want to finish as high as possible.”