[MarkW]

Tyler Roberts has signed a professional contract with the club:

http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/albion-west-brom-tyler-roberts-professional-contract-2900604.aspx

Academy scholar has been with Baggies for 10 years

TYLER Roberts has taken the next step in his blossoming Albion career - signing his first-ever professional Baggies contract.

The Academy scholar, who celebrated his 17th birthday on Tuesday, has put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal, committing his future to The Hawthorns until summer 2018.

He has been with the Club since he was seven.

Roberts has twice been named in the matchday squad, for last season's fixture against Arsenal and the recent home clash with Stoke.

The youngster spoke of his delight, but was also quick to thank the staff who had nurtured and coached him during the last 10 years.

On signing the new deal, Roberts said: "It feels wonderful. It's something I've been working towards since I was seven. To have finally got here is an immense feeling.

"Finally having that sense of achievement is good and being on the bench a couple of times was a great experience for me too.

"We have some great coaches at Academy level. Whether it was doing individual work, advice, coaching...they've been amazing."

Roberts claims his best role is as a 'No.9' or as a wide player.

Asked about the advice he had been given by Academy staff, Roberts continued: "They told me to use this as a stepping stone. To not settle for this, but push myself on and become a regular in the first-team squad.

"I was told to keep doing what I'm doing. If I do then maybe the chances will come. I thank them and also my family."

Academy Manager Mark Harrison praised Roberts' achievement, before challenging him to continue his progress.

"It is a fantastic that we are able to reward a player who has been with us for so many years," he said. "He now becomes a role model for all the kids who start their journey with us.

"Tyler has done it through hard work, perseverance and with support from his family.

"But hopefully this is only a milestone in his journey - Tyler needs to see this as a platform to becoming a regular member of the first-team squad."

Tony Pulis also laid down his own challenges for the youngster, who trained with Wales' senior squad last summer.

"I'm delighted for the lad. He’s a wonderful player, a wonderful talent," said Pulis.

"But this is the first step. What he can't do now is relax or take any steps back. He has to keep striving to improve."

[SmethDan]

Congratulations on your first pro' contract Tyler.

Genuinely hope you have a wonderful career and score plenty of goals for the Baggies.
 .

[Hull Baggie]

Great, there does seem to more positivity around the club at the minute, hopefully he will get some minutes on the pitch before the end of the season.

[Albionic]

well done son, we need an example fro the academy for others to emulate,

(sadly someone else has not been the example we hoped for, learn from his mistakes and you will not be far off.)

[Albion79]

Great news, by all accounts he is very highly rated.

Whether its Roberts, Nabi or one of the younger lads can get some first team action this season it will be a huge boost for the academy as following from Berahino, if we have another youngster involved this season the top players in our younger age groups will see there is a path to the first team and although money talks, it may mean we dont lose players to the big boys.

Realistically we probably need 12 points to stay up and there are 17 games left, you would hope we would comfortable by March time so there will be no better time to blood some youngsters.

[Morany]

Great news, by all accounts he is very highly rated.

Whether its Roberts, Nabi or one of the younger lads can get some first team action this season it will be a huge boost for the academy as following from Berahino, if we have another youngster involved this season the top players in our younger age groups will see there is a path to the first team and although money talks, it may mean we dont lose players to the big boys.

Realistically we probably need 12 points to stay up and there are 17 games left, you would hope we would comfortable by March time so there will be no better time to blood some youngsters.

Agreed, just looked at the fixtures and would like to think we would be safe by March with home games against Villa , Swansea and Palace, and some winnable aways. Soon as we hit that magical 40 , it's time to get Nabi and Roberts invo;ved

[MarkW]

Agreed, just looked at the fixtures and would like to think we would be safe by March with home games against Villa , Swansea and Palace, and some winnable aways. Soon as we hit that magical 40 , it's time to get Nabi and Roberts invo;ved

Through pure maths, I'm hoping we pass the 40 points mark after around 31/32 games, so that's gives us 6 or so games to A) Try to get as high up the table as possible, and b) Blood some of the youngsters into the team

[Albionic]

Agreed, just looked at the fixtures and would like to think we would be safe by March with home games against Villa , Swansea and Palace, and some winnable aways. Soon as we hit that magical 40 , it's time to get Nabi and Roberts invo;ved

Love the sentiment, but isn't every place in the table worth about £1,5m ??
Now put your JP / TP head on and think, +1.5M towards transfer budget or give the kid a run out ?

Answers on a postcard to

Give me the money Tony
c/o Jeremy Peace

[MarkW]

Love the sentiment, but isn't every place in the table worth about £1,5m ??
Now put your JP / TP head on and think, +1.5M towards transfer budget or give the kid a run out ?

Answers on a postcard to

Give me the money Tony
c/o Jeremy Peace

I don't think it needs to be so black and white. We can aim for higher places while still giving youngsters a taste of first team action. THey don't need to start, but just giving them 10 minutes is better than nothing.

In the case of Roberts, he says he's a no.9 or wide player. Is bringing him on when we are chasing a game really going to be detrimental? It's not like he has two left feet - he's clearly rated for a reason!

[HampshireBaggie]

In a team sport, with 11 players on the pitch, there should always be enough in the team to accommodate a developing player. The only position this may not be possible is GK.

These are professional footballers, its not like you chucking in a bloke from the pub. If it isn't working out on the pitch that day, then substitute him.

[MarkW]

If some posters are to be believed, we carry Lambert when he plays. How would Roberts be any different?

[Hunnington Baggie]

If some posters are to be believed, we carry Lambert when he plays. How would Roberts be any different?

Roberts world be much easier to carry if it came to it, he weighs half as much!!   

[devonbaggiecjaj]

Love the sentiment, but isn't every place in the table worth about £1,5m ??
Now put your JP / TP head on and think, +1.5M towards transfer budget or give the kid a run out ?

Answers on a postcard to

Give me the money Tony
c/o Jeremy Peace

If one of those kids prove they can hack it in the prem by getting playing time then one less transfer needed maybe. JP would like that

[M666EYS]

Does anyone on here go watch the u21s regular?

[glosterbaggie]

Does anyone on here go watch the u21s regular?

Do you still play for the under 11's? Mate?

[cads_ap_albion]

I'm surprised for such a talent he hasn't signed a much longer contract?

Has leko signed a contract yet?

[Hunnington Baggie]

I'm surprised for such a talent he hasn't signed a much longer contract?

Has leko signed a contract yet?

don't think Leko is "of age" yet.

For Albion the deal allows them to review the situation when he's 19 or 20, if hes either failed to reach the expectation and released or matched/surpassed it and offered improved terms. I thinks its kind of a good move, shows the club feel he should be doing something by then.

[LiamTheBaggie]

Love the sentiment, but isn't every place in the table worth about £1,5m ??
Now put your JP / TP head on and think, +1.5M towards transfer budget or give the kid a run out ?

Answers on a postcard to

Give me the money Tony
c/o Jeremy Peace

I would hope we could afford to give him a few ten minute cameo's here and there.

He'll learn a lot more in that ten minutes than he will faffing about in the under 21s league.

I would also hope we're looking to start blooding him in the lower leagues with a loan move. Playing in that sort of intensity will also be more beneficial than a non-competitive reserve league.

[tennant1wba]

is nabi back at the albion know ??

[AlbionBest]

is nabi back at the albion know ??

Yep, Adil is back and played last week in the U21's against Arsenal though never really shined. The guy that looked to have a bit of quality was Roberts - i'd be tempted to have him on the bench Tuesday. Leko showed some nice touched but no real end product.

Nabi also has two brothers with us - Samir, aged 18, and Rahis, 16 though not sure how highly they are rated.

[OldburyWBA]

Yep, Adil is back and played last week in the U21's against Arsenal though never really shined. The guy that looked to have a bit of quality was Roberts - i'd be tempted to have him on the bench Tuesday. Leko showed some nice touched but no real end product.

Nabi also has two brothers with us - Samir, aged 18, and Rahis, 16 though not sure how highly they are rated.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Samir is the highly rated one out of them

[Dexy]

Adil Nabi just scored again for the under 21s against Hull in the PL cup , whats hd got to do to get a domestic loan ?!

[OldburyWBA]

West Bromwich Albion ‏@WBAFCofficial 22s23 seconds ago

GOAL. Albion U21 1 (A Nabi 48) Hull City U21 2 (Rodgers 58, Olley 68) in the @premierleague Cup #WBA

[Dan]

I don't know why we're keeping Nabi, Pulis seems to have no interest in using him what with having a 16 year old Roberts on the bench ahead of him last season, and he's presumably not going to be playing in the FA cup game if he's playing tonight. Can't exactly play they youth card, he's 22 next month. Seems best for everyone to let him leave and maybe he can work his way back up like Roofe is doing. Otherwise we're keeping him essentially to be a professional reserve.

Though on a Nabi related note his youngest brother Rahis Nabi was named in the England under 17 squad last week along with Jonathan Leko. Considering Leko's not in the squad tonight I'm guessing he'll be on the bench tomorrow (unless he's injured).

[caravanc58]

Adil Nabi just scored again for the under 21s against Hull in the PL cup , whats hd got to do to get a domestic loan ?!

lets put him on the bench and send lambert on loan.