Martin Devaney spoke to the local press ahead of our trip to the Hawthorns.
ON INJURIES
“Callum Brittain had a fitness test today, and he looks unlikely. Mads Andersen and Rémy Vita are definitely out.
“Romal is his hamstring, a slight strain, so unfortunately, he’ll miss the weekend. Potentially, Devante and Josh could be back, but I won’t know until tomorrow; they’ll have to have a late fitness test because they’ve also been injured.”
ON YOUNGSTERS IMPRESSING
“Certainly, from the game on Saturday, Marshy. Jason did very well, Jordan came on and it’s needs must, at the minute – that’s why we’ve got an academy. It’s an opportunity, where we’ve been relegated, and there’s no pressure on the boys.
“We have to give them an opportunity and it’d be silly of me if I didn’t. So, those three did well considering the environment and the mindset where we’ve been relegated; it’s a difficult environment to come into.
“All we’ve tried to do is be really positive and told them to enjoy it, work hard and show everyone what they’re made of, and I thought they did that well at times. Obviously, there were little mistakes in there at times, but they’ll learn from that, and that’s what we need and what we expect from them.”
ON AIDEN MARSH
“He’s shown on Saturday – he’s got his goal and worked really hard in the press. It’s about working hard through the summer, keeping grounded – which he will do and everyone around him will do, supporting him.
“Next season, he’s got to build on that and sort of grab that opportunity and show everyone what he’s capable of. I’m sure he’ll get opportunities and then it’s down to him to find that consistency and find the goals.”
ON WILL HONDERMARCK
“It’s been stop start. There hasn’t really been a 90-minute performance from him, maybe 20 minutes here and there. I think, in terms of Will and his progress, he has to focus on his technical ability; he’s an athletic lad – he’s got power, he’s got pace.
“But it’s about getting up to speed and being able to recognise, when he plays in midfield, being able to deal with the ball in tight areas, he’s got to improve. If he plays as a right wing-back, that’s something he has to learn in terms of tactical – when to drop off, when to get tight, playing along the defensive line, which in summer and in time through coaching, he will improve because he’s got the attributes.
“In time, we’ll find out whether he can take on the technical and tactical attributes.”
ON WEST BROMWICH ALBION
“I just want us to be competitive, as much as we can be. We have to show them respect; it’s a Premier League club with Premier League players that have maybe underachieved this season. They’ve won 15 or 16 games and we’ve won six all season, so we’ll be going there to do our best and make sure there’s no fear.
“If we can grow into the game and be brave on the ball, we’ll have to wait and see what happens.”
