EDDIE Newton today took over as assistant head coach to Roberto Di Matteo at The Hawthorns.

Newton honed his skills as a coach with Chelsea's Academy after a knee injury forced him to retire as a player in 2001, aged just 29.

His former Chelsea team-mate Di Matteo came calling in July 2008 and appointed him as assistant manager at MK Dons.

The pair first met at Stamford Bridge in 1996 when big-name signing Di Matteo arrived from Lazio to team up with established home-grown player Newton.

They struck up a formidable partnership at the heart of the Blues' midfield and both men scored in the club's 2-0 1997 FA Cup Final success over Middlesbrough.

Born on December 13, 1971, in Hammersmith, Newton came through the ranks at Chelsea as a player.

He was loaned out to Cardiff in January 1992, scoring four goals in 18 games, before returning to West London.

On the international front he was capped by England Under-21s twice.

In 1998 he helped Chelsea win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the League Cup but the arrival of French World Cup-winning midfielder Didier Deschamps limited his first-team chances and in July 1999 he moved to Birmingham City, where he spent six months.

Short spells at Oxford United, Barnet and Hayes followed and he finished with a career record of 259 appearances, including 41 as a substitute, and 14 goals.

PIC: EAGLE EYES...Newton takes a look at the Baggies players' progress on their first day back in training