Express & Star

Alan Pardew contemplates promoting Tyler Roberts into West Brom senior squad

Albion are trying to tie down Tyler Roberts to a new deal to ward off interest from Leeds United after the teenager impressed boss Alan Pardew in training.

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Tyler Roberts. (AMA)

Pardew is contemplating throwing the 19-year-old striker into his first team squad for the rest of season following his final game on loan at League One Walsall this weekend.

Roberts’s contract runs out in the summer, and there are a number of clubs sniffing around the Wales Under-19 international.

The Baggies have already rejected a multimillion bid for him, Leeds are interested, and Rangers are trying to lure the teenager north of the border for a set compensation fee of £300,000.

But the Baggies have offered the youngster a new contract and Pardew reckons he has a bright future at The Hawthorns.

“He plays his last game (for Walsall) on Saturday against Charlton which I have got covered by someone I trust and know very well,” Albion’s head coach told BBC WM.

“We’ve had him in training this week, I like the look of him. I think there’s potential there for us this season, let alone going forward.

“We’ll play the game at Charlton and then we’ll make a decision on him.”

Walsall boss Jon Whitney wants to keep Roberts on loan until the end of the season, and believes a return to under-23 football would hamper his development.

But the 19-year-old, who has five League One goals this season, could now be needed for Albion’s survival bid.

The Baggies have only scored 18 goals in 23 Premier League games this season and have failed with loan enquiries for Danny Ings and Daniel Sturridge this month.

This week, Albion replaced goalkeeping coach Jonathan Gould with Saddlers first team coach Neil Cutler.

“Neil’s an interesting one because I wanted to find the best goalie coach I could,” added Pardew. “His name kept coming up. Then I asked my goalies here and his name come up again.

“Then I asked some senior figures at the FA and his name come up again. I think we’re very fortunate to get in there ahead of other clubs.

“He will bring a young dynamic look to that area which is such an important area of the pitch.

“We’ve got two experienced goalkeepers, it might be good to have a young buck around them! I think they’ve enjoyed working with him this week and I have too.”

Tahvon Campbell, 21, has joined League Two Forest Green Rovers on loan until the end of the season.

Kyle Edwards, 19, has followed Kane Wilson back to League Two Exeter City until the end of the season.