ROBERTO Di Matteo has revealed Michael Appleton has been promoted to first-team coach at The Hawthorns.

Appleton finished last season as reserves and Academy Under-18s coach and gained his UEFA Pro License in March.

The new head coach sees him as a 'valuable' member of his backroom team alongside assistant head coach Eddie Newton and head of sports science Ade Mafe.

"I'm looking forward to working with Michael," said Di Matteo.

"He's been here a long time.

"I haven't known him that long but he seems like a very good guy.

"He knows the club and players and I'm sure he'll be a valuable asset to us."

Albion signed Appleton, who started his career at Manchester United as a player, from Preston in January 2001.

He joined the Albion coaching staff when he was forced to retire from playing in November 2003 due to a serious knee injury he sustained in training two years earlier.

He started out coaching the Under-14s in the Baggies' Centre of Excellence and spent the following season working as development coach to all the age groups after the club attained Academy status.

When Craig Shakespeare was promoted to reserves coach in 2006 he stepped into his boots as Under-18s coach for two seasons.

And when Shakespeare departed last summer to join Leicester City as assistant manager, Appleton took on the dual role of reserves and Academy Under-18s coach.

Subscribers to our SMS breaking news service got this story first. To sign up, simply text CLUB WBA to 88442 (texts cost 25p each) or click here.