Jeremy Sarmiento is ready to put injury problems behind him – as he focuses on his second Albion season.

The highly-rated winger is away with Ecuador after recovering from a second hamstring problem.

He was kept out for several months after pulling up in his first Premier League start, away to West Ham in December.

A second, less serious, injury struck when he looked to build match fitness with a late-season appearance for the under-23s versus Chelsea.

He is now being eased back in by his national team as they tackle friendly fixtures in the United States.

Sarmiento, who turns 20 next week, has seen the positive side of his injuries and subsequent recovery.

He said: “My first year playing with the seniors was difficult, with the injuries as well, of course.

“But better for it to happen now. I’m young, I’ve still got time.

“I’m very happy to be here and I didn’t expect to make my debut so quickly.

“But thanks to God I did things well and now to keep moving up, step by step.”

Sarmiento made Prem and international debuts and was crowned Albion’s young player of the year in a season which might have been spent with the academy.

He said: “The plan was to start in the under-23s and see how the games went, then take a decision on whether to join with the first team or stay with the 23s.

JEREMY SARMIENTO SET FOR MORE PLAYING TIME

“In the first two or three months, I played some games with the 23s and it went very well.

"The coaches here in the first team saw nearly all the games and were very happy with me.