Muhamed Diomande, Albion’s former Wolves youth defender, is looking to break into the first squad after seeing a path with the Baggies.
The 18-year-old, who grew up in Italy, moved to the Black Country and has been a fixture for Richard Beale’s under-21 team this season.
Diomande was a successful trialist at The Hawthorns, being released by Wolves after a four-year stint.
Albion’s youthful players have responded admirably to a difficult start to the season, including huge defeats by Norwich and Brighton in Premier League 2. Beale’s
side went on a four-game unbeaten streak that would have been nearly five if it hadn’t been for a penalty shootout loss against National League Ebbsfleet following a
2-2 draw on Tuesday in the new National League Cup.
The teenager has observed Tom Fellows as an example of advancement in the club’s academy, on which the new Bilkul Football ownership places a high value, and
he wants to play a role.
Diamonde stated: “I want to play for the first team, whether that means appearing in the league or the cup, and if that doesn’t happen, going on loan is always an
option, so it’s all about building my profile.”
“I’ve seen a lot of players come from this academy and play at the highest level, so I believe this club can get me there depending on the effort I put in.
“Hopefully, it’ll pay off in the end and the first team boss has given out opportunities to academy players before, so I believe with that faith I can get somewhere
here.”
Diomande and Albion’s under-21s face Leeds United in York on Friday night, as the mid-table teenagers attempt to get into the top half of the 26-team PL2.
The centre-back is not the only Italian teenager to have caught the attention of the under-21s; compatriot Dauda Idrissa, a 16-year-old defender-turned-midfielder
who only signed scholarship contracts in the summer, is regarded as a genuine prospect.
Idrissa made his senior debut as a second-half replacement in August’s first-team EFL Cup defeat at Fleetwood.
“The coaches are very good,” defender Diomande said. “As humans, they’re direct and open, which helps us grow at this point. We can rely on them, which is the
most important thing. I’m focused on giving my all here and seeing where it takes me.
“I’ve acquired a lot of confidence since these early games. I feel free to show how I can play, even if it means making mistakes, but that comes from training at the
level I want to exhibit on the pitch during games.”
Meanwhile, Albion first-team players Jayson Molumby and Mikey Johnston have been called up to represent the Republic of Ireland on international duty.
Ireland will travel to Finland next Thursday before facing Greece away three days later in the Nations League.
Torbjorn Heggem, an Albion defender, has earned his first Norwegian call-up following an encouraging start to the season. Norway hosts Slovenia in Oslo next
Thursday before traveling to Austria on Sunday.
Loanee Paddy McNair, who is yet to appear in a Baggies league game, has been named to Northern Ireland’s squad for matches against Belarus and Bulgaria.
Tom Fellows, a great winger who had an impressive start to his England under-21 career as a late replacement call last month, did not make the cut this time.
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