West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion left-back Callum Styles said team-mate Mikey Johnston is "needed" to help the Championship side make a promotion push this season.

The Republic of Ireland winger was originally tipped to depart The Hawthorns for Brazilian side Flamengo, however, the deal fell through and Johnston joined the Baggies for their preseason trip to Austria instead.

Johnston's presence turned out to be a positive one, as he provided the assist for West Brom's goal in their 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kyiv.

"We are all glad he didn't end up going over [to Brazil] because he's an unbelievable player," Styles told BBC Radio WM.

"He's what we need to be fighting in the league, where we want to be."

Albion did not get the win against the Ukrainian champions but Styles said that new boss Ryan Mason's style of play is something the players want to stick to through thick and thin.

"We have certain patterns [Mason] wants us to play, sometimes they will come off in the game, sometimes they won't," he added.

"The main thing is we've got to keep doing it, whether it goes good or bad in preseason, we've just got to keep forcing it to make sure we know where we need to be."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

West Bromwich Albion winger Tom Fellows, 21, is attracting the interest of Everton and Leeds after impressing for England Under-21s this summer. (SportsBoom, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

New West Bromwich Albion boss Ryan Mason says he saw aspects from his side during their 1-1 friendly draw against Dynamo Kyiv that "excite" him.

The two sides met in Austria to round off Albion's week of pre-season training in the country.

"There's still work to do of course but there are definite elements of our game that excite me and hopefully the players can feel that as well," Mason told BBC Radio WM.

"It was a good challenge and I think we came through it in a good, positive way."

Something Mason is specifically pleased with his side's performance while fatigued, something that should benefit them through a demanding Championship season.

"It's been a tough week so to go into a game like that under fatigue is really good, healthy for us to play under that kind of stress," Mason added.

"It was a positive match, positive outcomes and we look forward."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Steve Hermon

It's the final full day in Burgenland for Albion's players and staff and they've rounded off a productive pre-season training camp with a 1-1 draw against Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv.

The game was played at the home of SC Bad Tatzmannsdorf, who play in the fourth tier of Austrian football. You can't call it a stadium as there was perhaps only around 100 seats, with everyone else crammed under the clubhouse roof when the rain came down in the second half.

The pitch lies at the bottom of the slope from the Baggies' base next to a walking track and while this match wasn't quite played at walking pace, unlike a Mozart masterpiece, it also wasn't a classic.

Pre-season encounters never are to be fair but there were plenty of positives. Mikey Johnston, who just days ago was close to moving to Brazil, came on at half-time for Tom Fellows and crossed the ball in from the right for summer signing Nat Phillips to head home the Baggies goal from close range.

Albion played in a 4-4-1-1 formation and looked comfortable in possession. It was interesting to see some of the patterns of play we witnessed on the training field earlier this week being played out in the game and head coach Ryan Mason told me afterwards he was pleased with that.

The week will also have been about team bonding, particularly for new team-mates and it would have given Mason the chance to get to know his players better.

We witnessed the camaraderie as members of the team gathered to play cards in the hotel foyer during a break from training earlier in the week, while new striker Aune Heggebo, who wasn't involved in the friendly, was filmed by the club playing table tennis with Fellows.

The squad will now head from Burgenland back to the Black Country and then onto their next warm-up match against ex-Baggies boss Steve Bruce's Blackpool a week on Saturday.

You can catch all of Steve Hermon's chats with the West Brom players in Austria on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Steve Hermon

It's my penultimate day in Bad Tatzmannsdorf and I'm writing this from the balcony of the team hotel where there is a lovely view of green hills and trees in this rural region of Austria.

It's an idyllic setting for the Albion squad to prepare for the new season and they have been working hard this week with double sessions on most days.

The trip will culminate in a behind closed doors friendly against Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv tomorrow lunchtime and you'll be able to follow that on Ed James' show on BBC Radio WM.

It's tough opposition and only Albion's second game of the summer, so I wouldn't read too much into the result. It's a fine-tuning exercise in terms of fitness and working the routines I witnessed in training yesterday. I'm really intrigued to see that in action tomorrow.

I'm also really intrigued to see what this secluded town has to offer for us tonight.

While the Albion squad have brought two of the club's chefs with them to cook them the food required for a footballer's diet, myself and the Express & Star's Albion reporter Lewis Cox, who's also on the trip, have had to fend for ourselves and there isn't much open past a certain hour here.

However, I can recommend a langos, which I'm reliably informed is a Hungarian delicacy - Hungary is only 15 miles away from here - and it was like eating a stodgy calzone or Cornish pasty. Mine was filled with pulled pork and it was sehr gut!

That was Tuesday's meal. Last night, we left it too late and ended up sharing a pretzel! We did, however, stumble upon some live music.

In one Bavarian-style bar there was a man playing an accordion, while around the corner in an amphitheatre, there was a band performing to a decent crowd of locals.

Forget K-pop, Austropop is what's on trend here.

Hopefully, Albion's players will be singing from the same hymn sheet tomorrow to close out a productive week in Austria.

You can follow West Bromwich Albion's friendly against Dynamo Kyiv starting from 10:00 BST on BBC Sounds.

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Josh Griffiths says new boss Ryan Mason is not just looking at what his shot-stoppers can do with their gloves - but also their feet.

Griffiths is aiming to impress Mason during pre-season as he and team-mate Joe Wildsmith vie to become first choice come the start of the Championship campaign.

The 23-year-old explained that while the goalkeepers still do some individual work, much of their training has been with the rest of the outfield squad.

"He's been keen to get us in, especially in the possessions and things like that," Griffiths told BBC Radio WM in an interview during Albion's tour of Austria.

"Every team needs a goalkeeper who can play with his feet else you're a man down essentially.

"It's great to be involved, we are only going to get better being involved with the [other] players."

Wildsmith made slightly more second-tier appearances last season, 10 to Griffiths' six, after first-choice Alex Palmer left for Ipswich in the winter transfer window.

But Griffiths believes the arrival of Mason means they both have an equal chance of getting into the starting line-up.

"It's a fresh start for everyone," Griffiths added.

"The shirt's up for grabs. We both would like it, obviously, so [we're] just doing as well as we can in pre-season and the number will take care of itself."

West Bromwich Albion are keen on making a move for versatile Ghana midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp following the 32-year-old's release from Premier League side Crystal Palace. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

First, I'm delighted to reported that the torrential rain has disappeared.

It's still breezy in Burgenland but there has been a glimpse of some blue sky above Albion's training base in Bad Tatzmannsdorf.

Today has been very insightful because I was granted access to one of Ryan Mason's training sessions and it was fascinating to watch the new head coach put his team through their paces.

The first part of the session saw the 34-year-old watching light drills that were led by assistant coaches Nigel Gibbs, Damia Abella and James Morrison before Mason, who had donned a Baggies baseball cap, took over.

I don't want to give too much away because I'm mindful that Mason was gracious enough to grant us this access, but the thing that stood out for me was how vocal he was and clear with his instructions. He didn't mind halting the session to get a specific point across.

In terms of formation and style of play, we'll get more of an insight into that on Friday when Albion play Dynamo Kyiv in a behind closed doors friendly that I'm also being allowed to watch.

It's worth noting that Mikey Johnston is now back with the squad after the collapse of his move to Brazil. He looked very lively in the morning session, as did Isaac Price and Tom Fellows, who've both had busier summers than most because of international duty with Northern Ireland and England under-21s, respectively.

New signing Aune Heggebo also looked strong and tenacious on the training field as he looks to impress his new boss.

The camaraderie between the players was also evident. They finished with some seven-a-side action and it was extremely competitive between the four teams with plenty of banter flying around.

They're now back inside for a break before heading out for another session in the afternoon as the hard work continues.

BBC Radio WM will have a special 'Albion In Austria' programme from 18:00 BST on Wednesday, which you can listen to on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Steve Hermon

I've landed in rainy Austria where Albion are spending a week preparing for the new season.

Ryan Mason's squad arrived in the Burgenland region, close to the Hungarian border, at the weekend and I've even been beaten to the base by the Baggies' latest signing, Aune Heggebo.

Burgenland, by the way, translates as 'Land of the Castles' - and Norwegian striker Heggebo appears to be as imposing as a medieval structure. How he stands up against Championship defenders remains to be seen.

Despite acknowledging ongoing challenges with profit and sustainability rules, the club's owners Bilkul have shown their ambition by committing to spend a reported £4.75m to bring the 23-year-old in from SK Brann.

It's the highest transfer fee since they took over in February 2024.

Although it should be pointed out that because he's signed a five-year contract, the transfer fee can be spread over the course of that deal. That's smart business but it's still a significant outlay.

Mikey Johnston is also expected to arrive later than the rest of the squad after a sensational move to Brazilian side Flamengo collapsed almost as sensationally in the space of 48 hours.

What the winger will find when he arrives is a Uefa-approved training facility complete with a hotel and spa nestled among green fields in this small town.

For full disclosure, where I'm staying a short walk away isn't quite as luxurious but it does have a cafe attached to it with some lovely pastries, so I'm not complaining.

We are being allowed to watch a couple of training sessions while over here, so it will be interesting to see Ryan Mason's coaching methods up close as he embarks on his first senior head coach role.

The camp ends with a behind closed doors friendly against Dynamo Kiev on Friday, which we'll be reporting on and I'll also be recording several interviews with players throughout the week.

BBC Radio WM will have a special 'Albion In Austria' programme from 18:00 BST on Wednesday, which you can listen to on BBC Sounds.

Mikey Johnston's proposed £5m move from West Brom to Brazilian giants Flamengo has broken down over fan dissent in Rio. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

Image source, Rex Features

West Bromwich Albion have signed Harrogate Town teenager Jack Bray on a three-year deal.

The forward, 18, made his senior league debut in League Two last season against Grimsby Town but will join the Baggies' under-21 group upon his arrival at The Hawthorns.

"In the FA Youth Cup, you play teams from different leagues, categories, and players get the chance to stand out. We watched Harrogate's previous two matches before we played them last season and Jack stood out," Albion's academy manager Richard Stevens told the club's website., external

"He is crafty with the ball at his feet, creative in tight areas, and has got that bit of off-the-cuff to his game which we don't always see.

"Our job is to let him use that creativity as he progresses through the 21s programme here."

Former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Richard Sneekes said new head coach Ryan Mason's background with Tottenham Hotspur may influence a more attacking style at the Hawthorns.

"He got a really good schooling at Spurs. He's been there with [Ange] Postecoglou, he's been there with [Jose] Mourinho, he's been there with [Antonio] Conte. So, if you can't learn anything from these sorts of managers then you might as well stop straight away," he told BBC Radio WM's fan forum.

"I want to be entertained. You know we might not always win but if we've come away from it and say, 'They've given it all they've got, I've seen some good attacking football,' I think everybody can put their hands up and say, 'fair play.'"

But while Sneekes may be "excited" at the prospect of what Mason, 34, can do at the club, he also said fans should give the young boss time to settle.

"I don't think we can expect you with the way the club is and where we are at the moment that we're going to be competing for the top two places. Play-offs maybe, but I think he's got to be very lucky," he added.

"I just hope that people will give him time because we all know that if he loses the first five games people will be shouting for his head.

"I'm just hoping that he'll be able to bring a playing style that people enjoy watching, that he understands the history of the club and what the fans want to see, and adjust himself to bringing that. Like I said before, you know people will accept a loss here and there."

Listen to the full fan forum on BBC Sounds.

West Bromwich Albion are considering a move for Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Kelman after the 23-year-old impressed last season on loan at Leyton Orient, earning League One's golden boot with 21 goals. (Darren Witcoop via X), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

Wondering what went down at BBC Radio WM's West Bromwich Albion fan forum?

Catch up on the latest from Halesowen Town's Yeltz Bar as Steve Hermon and Daz Hale are joined by former Baggies midfielder Richard Sneekes to talk all things Albion.

Tune into BBC Radio WM at 18:00 BST on Friday to listen to the full programme.

Can't make it? Don't worry. It'll be available on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast so you won't miss a thing.

The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you've got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.

Here are some key dates to put in your diary:

• 9 August 2025 - v Blackburn Rovers (H)

• 16 August 2025 - v Wrexham (A)

• 26 November 2025 - v Birmingham City (H)

• 26 December 2025 - v Bristol City (H)

• 1 January 2026 - v Swansea City (A)

• 14 February 2026 - v Birmingham City (A)

• 2 May 2026 - v Sheffield Wednesday (A)

See West Bromwich Albion's full fixture list here.