West Brom await the next transfer phase as a key injury update emerges

The next phase

Steve Bruce and his West Bromwich Albion coaching unit are currently presiding over the pre-season preparations of 27 senior players out in Portimao. The Baggies play their one and only friendly abroad against Leyton Orient next Monday, before they return and undertake a tour of England against various EFL opponents. They round things off with the visit of Hertha Berlin.

New signings John Swift and Jed Wallace are already familiarising themselves with their new surroundings, and their new teammates, as they seek to hit the ground running once the Championship commences. As you might expect, the senior figures at the club are delighted to have acquired the services of both players.

Of those 27 players, four are youngsters who have made their way through the club’s academy, or have been added along the way. While Caleb Taylor, Zac Ashworth, Ethan Ingram and Quevin Castro would appear to be the first cabs off the rank having travelled to Portugal, Rayhaan Tulloch, Tom Fellows and Rico Richards are at home too.

Concept kits

The beginning of the new Championship season is a little over a month away, but West Bromwich Albion fans are still waiting to see how the players in those opening few weeks of the campaign will be kitted out. The Baggies are yet to unveil their new home, away and third strips for the 2022-23 season, which will again bear the Ideal Heating logo on the torso.

Albion have been experimental in the last few years, and have often opted to have an alternative strip to choose from, aside from the regular away top; in 2014-15 the contentious pinstripe kit was released, while in 2020-21 they restored the nostalgic barcode design to all three kits – in blue and white, green and yellow and red and yellow.

The agreement with Puma, who have manufactured the club’s range for every year since 2018, will continue. They have already kitted out the squad’s training gear, which they’re currently wearing while out in Portugal preparing for the new season ahead.

Pereira’s promise

Eyebrows were raised 12 months ago when Matheus Pereira left West Bromwich Albion for the Middle East following relegation. A player who boasted some very impressive numbers considering that he was a part of a side who were immediately sent packing back to the Championship, Pereira was tipped to remain in the Premier League.

Aston Villa were tenuously linked, as were the likes of Leeds United, West Ham and Everton, but no offers came to the table and, as Valerien Ismael’s Baggies headed south to take on Bournemouth in the season opener last August, Pereira jetted out to Saudi Arabia, where his £16m move to Al Hilal was confirmed.

It was a left field move. Accusations swiftly came that Pereira had made the decision based on money, but almost a year after leaving The Hawthorns for pastures new he has silverware aplenty to his name, too. Fans back in the UK had the chance to watch the Brazilian playmaker on terrestrial TV, too, when Al Hilal were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in the Club World Cup in February.

Injury update

The vast majority of Steve Bruce’s West Bromwich Albion squad are in ship shape and slowly building up their fitness levels before their pre-season friendly campaign begins next Monday. Albion have six games pencilled in before their Championship schedule begins at the end of next month and it starts with the Portugal-based friendly against Leyton Orient.

The Albion squad, based in the Portimao region of the Algarve until next Tuesday, are being put through their paces daily in the continental heat and are being closely watched by Bruce and his coaching unit which includes Stephen Clemence, Steve Agnew and James Morrison.

There are around 25 players out in Portugal as part of the group, including four players from the club’s under 23s and new signings Jed Wallace and John Swift, but the only two players who are not currently partaking in everything else that the group are defenders Kyle Bartley and Kean Bryan.