Yasin Ayari could be in line for more Premier League action today – after impressing his Albion boss.
The 20-year-old midfielder started both games for Sweden in the international window.
He also played most of the recent 1-1 draw at Arsenal after coming on late in the first two league fixtures.
Fabian Huerzeler spoke about Ayari after the game at the Emirates when asked specifically about his performance and recent progress.
On Thursday, he again praised the former AIK man – having this time been asked a more general question about substitutions.
Huerzeler said: “We all talk, also in the media, about players who we bought for a lot of money but for me, he’s also like a great new player for us.
“He made a great impression in pre-season. He’s very stable, he wants to improve.
“You really feel that he’s into it. He has this intensity and he’s still a young player where we find a lot of potential and that’s why I’m really happy to have him in the squad.
“He should be mentioned more even though I know we didn’t pay a lot of money for him, he was on loan, but I think he’s a great newcomer for us and a great new player.
“He gives the squad something we didn’t have before.”
Albion were widely reported to have paid AIK of Solna about £5 million for Ayari less than two years ago and he had loan stints at Blackburn and Coventry before really coming to the fore in the recent pre-season.
He played against Ipswich for both his Championship clubs last season, suffering a pair of narrow defeats.
Albion are likely to be without midfielder James Milner today while Mats Wieffer was being assessed.
Matt O’Riley has begun his rehab after ankle surgery.
Huerzeler said: “He’s in very good spirits.
“He has a great character, great attitude, so immediately after surgery, he’s very, very positive.
“He’s here around us in the training ground.
“He’s doing his rehab already and I think he will be coming back quite fast.”
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