West Brom boast starting XI options after two transfers and injured players return

In the coming weeks, we’ll begin to see how Ryan Mason intends for his West Bromwich Albion to set up. With public meetings with Blackpool, Lincoln City and Rayo Vallecano to come ahead of the new season, fans will be granted an opportunity to see in more detail what Mason and Albion have been working on in this summer which has taken them to Austria.

Albion have new signings Nat Phillips and Aune Heggebo in tow; both players who you’d expect to have a prominent role to play in how Mason lines his team up in the new campaign. Albion also, though, have Tammer Bany – who spent the first six months bedding into his new surroundings with limited minutes here and there – as something of a wildcard.

Fans will hope to see Tom Fellows line up at the beginning of the season, in the face of interest from clubs elsewhere; the academy product topped the assist rankings in the Championship last term and established himself as the club’s first choice right winger under Carlos Corberan and then Tony Mowbray.

Jayson Molumby is set to miss the club’s friendly campaign; he was banned for five friendly matches for an altercation with a Real Mallorca player last summer. That lack of football could mean the energetic Irishman could need time at the beginning of the campaign to get up to speed with match minutes. In midfield – again dependent on how Mason plans for Albion to line up – you can see two of three players being involved.

Much will rely on where Isaac Price is utilised; the Northern Irishman can play deeper but is also able – as he proved last year – to play in a more advanced role. Provided it’s the former, he could play alongside Alex Mowatt or Ousmane Diakite. In the event of the latter, all three midfield options could be utilised.

Out wide you have Tammer Bany, Mikey Johnston and Karlan Grant who are all vying for a place in the side, while Daryl Dike and Josh Maja are working their ways back from injury. New signing Heggebo, meanwhile, arrives match fit having scored seven goals in 13 Eliteserien appearances for Brann this term.

Predicted XI for Albion against Blackburn on the opening day – Griffiths; Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles; Diakite, Mowatt, Price, Grant, Fellows; Heggebo

Subs from: Wildsmith, Bartley, Taylor, Frabotta, Molumby, Johnston, Bany, Wallace, Dike, Maja, Cole