MX23RW : Monday, December 23 11:18:31| >> :120:44242:44242:

Slaven Bilic provides update on West Bromwich Albion's plans for next season

The Croatian believes Premier League football will suit many of his existing players.

West Brom boss Slaven Bilic has hinted he will keep faith with the majority of his promotion-winning squad in the Premier League next season.

Albion ended their two-year exile from the top flight after a nervy 2-2 draw with QPR on Wednesday night. They crawled across the line to seal second spot in the Sky Bet Championship after rivals Brentford lost 2-1 at home to Barnsley.

Had the Bees won the Baggies would have dropped into the play-offs but they survived an agonising final few minutes to celebrate promotion.

A shorter-than-usual pre-season is already on the horizon, with thoughts turning to how Bilic will strengthen his squad for the challenge of the Premier League.

However, the Croatian insists the players who got the club promoted deserve the chance to prove themselves in the top division.

“We will see, we are a good team. We have a good example with Sheffield United, Norwich and Villa,” Bilic told Sky Sports.

“It is maybe three different approaches that show you you have to change but you don’t have to change a lot.

“The majority of the guys we have counted on here are going to play in the Premier League because they deserve it. Over the whole season, the players have been fantastic.

“I really believe that some of them will be more suited to the Premier League.”

Loanee Callum Robinson helped West Brom secure promotion to the Premier League
Loanee Callum Robinson helped West Brom secure promotion to the Premier League (Nick Potts/PA)

Whether Callum Robinson will be one of those players remains to be seen.

The forward, who put West Brom 2-1 ahead against QPR on Wednesday night, has impressed since making a loan move to The Hawthorns from Sheffield United at the end of the January transfer window.

Albion fans would be keen to see him return next season but when asked about his future the forward made it clear that, for now at least, his sights are set on returning to the Blades.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here, I came here to help the boys and I was able to do that tonight,” Robinson told Sky Sports.

“The lads have been doing it from August time, I have just been here since January. I’ve just tried my best and committed. I’m just happy we got the job done.

“But the plan is that my team is Sheffield United but I’ve got to wait and see what happens. In the summer, in my head, I will go back to Sheffield United.”

ID:407641: cacheID:407641:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5632:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!