Henrik Bjordal plans to grab another chance to shine for Albion in the Checkatrade Trophy tonight.

The under-21s face Russell Slade's Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

The much-maligned competition for lower league clubs, which culminates in a Wembley final, has been amended this season to include under-21 sides from clubs with Academy One status.

For Bjordal, who travelled with the first team for the last-gasp win at Birmingham for Christmas, it represents another opportunity to impress after helping Albion through at AFC Wimbledon in the previous round.

The 19-year-old Norwegian right-winger, bought from his home town club Aalesund a year ago for a fee of around £300,000, told The Argus: "We are playing against a first team and you have to take the chance to show you can play well against good team like Coventry from League One.

"It will be a tough game, as Wimbledon was, but I think we are ready and can go through.

"For us in the under-23s (league team) I think the competition is very important. It is a good arena in which to show our quality and show that we can play at a high level.

"I understand for Coventry it's just like another game, but for us young players it's very good."

 

Bjordal, under contract until June 2018, has made good progress in his first year at the Amex, despite the upheaval of leaving family and friends behind and an injury setback.

He said: "It's been difficult, being away from home in Norway, living alone for the first time, but I've settled in fast and easily.

"I had a bad injury (hamstring) after doing well in pre-season and showing the gaffer my skills. It has been a good year, with some ups and downs.

"I travelled to Birmingham in a squad of 20 players. It was good to be involved and to be in the dressing room before and after the game. The game ended well too, so it was good experience for me.

"I was hoping to be closer to the first team and maybe have more chances, but I just have to keep fighting and working hard and hopefully a chance will come."

Bjordal would happily go out on loan to broaden his experience. "We have to look at that," he said. "I want to play at the highest level possible and I want to play in the first team. It's still early in January, so we'll see."

The Argus: Kazenga LuaLua (above), on the opposite flank to Bjordal as an over-age in the last round at Wimbledon, starts a two-match suspension in the competition tonight for his late red card. His subsequent behaviour to the officials also led to a four-match ban from the first team, which ended with Saturday's FA Cup win against MK Dons.

Ex-Albion boss Slade is without new signings Nathan Clarke and Kevin Foley, both cup-tied. Coventry captain Jordan Willis (hamstring) is also a doubt and Jordan Turnbull is banned.