Steve Clarke has said he is surprised that Gareth McAuley took so long to break into the Premier League.

The 32-year-old has been a regular in West Bromwich Albion's back four since moving to The Hawthorns 18 months ago.

The Baggies boss said: "When you see how well Gareth has done, and how well he's acquitted himself to the Premier League, I am surprised he stayed under the radar for so long.

"Some of the bigger clubs, in inverted commas, look elsewhere for their talent but it is possible they are missing out on a good find from the lower leagues.

"The players that have been stuck down in the lower leagues for ages may think there's not a way up - but there is a way up. If you get the breaks, Gareth has shown you can do that."

In the last decade, the Northern Ireland international has had stints at Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Lincoln City and Coleraine.