'Dressing room leaders key to Mason start' - Davies
- Published
Former West Bromwich Albion defender Curtis Davies says the Baggies' experienced summer signings have been "key" to boss Ryan Mason's early success in his first permanent managerial appointment.
Defenders Chris Mepham, 27, and Nat Phillips, 28, from Liverpool were among Albion's close-season recruits.
And Davies, who played alongside Mason at Hull City in 2016-17, says it was the duo's leadership skills that appealed to the young head coach.
"The signings they've made, I think that's key when particularly you have a young manager," Davies told BBC Radio WM.
"I spoke to Mason in the summer, spoke about the environment, spoke about making sure you've got people in there that can help the changing room and they can almost self-govern it.
"With recruitment now, a lot of people are looking at 'he's done this, done that, he's got resale value' but actually there is a level of that leadership, like Mepham, like Phillips, what they can bring to the group, that is invaluable. You can't put a stat on that."
Listen to Davies' thoughts and more West Bromwich Albion content on BBC Sounds.
