Taylor hungry to earn first-team place for Baggies
Taylor: 'I really do feel like I'm ready'
- Published
Caleb Taylor says he is hungry to prove himself to West Brom boss Ryan Mason and earn a first-team spot this season.
The 22-year-old centre-back has been at The Hawthorns since the age of 10 but has played just 11 senior games for Albion across the past four seasons while amassing nearly 100 EFL appearances in loan spells with Cheltenham, Bolton and Wycombe.
After impressing with the Chairboys last season he was recalled in January and played and scored for West Brom in their FA Cup third round defeat at Bournemouth, only to return to Adams Park on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
He told BBC Radio WM: "I definitely got what I wanted last season by playing. I'd have liked to have played at West Brom, but the second best thing was going on loan and going to Wycombe."
Taylor admits he was confused by his January recall, adding: "I was doing so well at Wycombe and I was excited to come back and play and then got told I can go back on loan, it was tough to take because I thought I was ready to play after being on loan so many times.
"I am always hungry to play here, I have been here since the age of 10 and have always looked to play at The Hawthorns, play consistently and break through into the first team. I am desperate to play."
Taylor joined new head coach Ryan Mason and the rest of the squad on the pre-season trip to Austria and says he has been impressed by the former Tottenham assistant boss.
"Already I know exactly what he wants, he's very clear in how he coaches and communicates. I feel like I will learn a lot from him.
"He wants everyone to keep standards high so I am pushing myself every day to try and impress and do well. Everyone is excited for the season and hoping we can do well," he said.
"There's always competition, I'm just going to try my best, work hard, and hopefully play. I have done three loans and I feel like I am ready. I have played over 100 games in league football, I have the experience, I believe in my capability to play here so I am really going to push this season and try to break through to become a regular first team player."