Wallace happy to play 'bit part' in Baggies start

Club captain Jed Wallace is yet to start a game in Albion's unbeaten start to the Championship season

West Bromwich Albion club captain Jed Wallace says he would put up with being on the bench all season - if it meant the Baggies earn promotion back into the Premier League.

If table-topping Albion's flying start to the campaign, after a summer of apparent doubt and uncertainty, is a surprise then Wallace not having played much part in it is an even bigger one.

Since being signed by Steve Bruce in 2022, the former Portsmouth, Wolves and Millwall winger has been the Baggies' most consistent performer, making 100 appearances, 84 as a starter.

But, having missed the opening weekend of the season through injury, Wallace has had to settle for a place on the bench, making five appearances as a substitute as the unbeaten Baggies have picked up 16 points out of a possible 18.

"If I keep coming on for the last 20 minutes all season and we're still where we are in the table, I'll be a happy man," Wallace told BBC Radio WM.

"It's all about getting this club promoted. And I'm not going to start throwing my toys out the pram and having a ding-dong after five games on the bench."

Wallace is yet to start a game this season, largely thanks to the form of young winger Tom Fellows, who was a serious target for several Premier League clubs prior to the August transfer window closing.

He can also be used in a more central role up front - but the Baggies have no worries there as they can also boast the Championship's top scorer in Josh Maja, who netted his sixth goal of the season, and bizarrely his first at home, to earn Saturday's 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle.

But, ahead of Saturday's lunchtime trip to Sheffield Wednesday, when Maja will look to net in a fourth successive away game, Wallace and his team-mates all trust in boss Carlos Corberan’s decision-making and selection policy - when what they are doing is clearly working.

"We've had a consistency in the starting XI," Wallace added. "That's really suited everyone. But there is so much competition for places.

"I was talking to a mate of mine at another club who told me that the lads we're bringing on would be starting games for most teams in the league.

"We're on a really positive run and long may it continue. Josh Maja is scoring goals, Tom Fellows is at the top of his game. He's playing really well at the moment - and we're flying."

Albion club captain Jed Wallace was talking to BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon