MICHAEL Appleton believes youngsters Gianni Zuiverloon and Joe Mattock will both benefit mentally from being left out of the Albion squad for Saturday's 3-1 win over Derby.

The two full-backs are in the top six Baggies players for making the most appearances this term and the first-team coach feels they were both flagging.

Only Scott Carson, Jonas Olsson, Graham Dorrans and Chris Brunt have started more games and Appleton believes the pair were in need of a break from the pressures of the Coca-Cola Championship.

"As a coaching staff we've just been positive with them," he said.

"It's a squad game and throughout the season there have been lots of times when the squad has been rotated and players have been rested.

"Sometimes players need to be given a couple of weeks out of the team for more mental reasons rather than physical reasons, or poor form.

"When you have a busy period like we've had different players handle it differently.

"Some find it really difficult that they've got to play every three days.

"They were left out more to freshen their minds up and recharge their batteries upstairs, more than anything physical.

"People can agree or disagree if they were playing well or not.

"But, because they're both young players, I'm sure the head coach was thinking in the back of his head they have not been playing that long, although it's been at a high level.

"I think they just need to freshen themselves up and get themselves back on track mentally."

Former Manchester United and Baggies midfielder Appleton has backed Dutchman Zuiverloon, who caught the eye at the start of last term in the Barclays Premier League, to bounce back from his difficult spell in what is his first season in this division.

"Some of the games like Manchester United away are easy to get players up for," he added.

"From my own experience it's very difficult not to be up for those games if I'm honest.

"That might sound daft but they are big games, you're playing against the cream of the crop but you know you're pushed all the time.

"In this league the expectations are on us.

"There's a big difference between wanting to go up to actually being expected to go up.

"It's a different demand. There are times this season I think Gianni has been very,very good, not least for his athleticism.

"The lad's going through a tough period - but we all do.

"All of us have experienced it and as coaching staff we have to deal with that so he can get back to where he was."

And in the absence of the injured Gonzalo Jara (metatarsal), Appleton is confident the likes of Gabriel Tamas, who played at right-back against the Rams, on-loan Ben Watson and Youssouf Mulumbu can deputise for Zuiverloon.

"It's not a major issue as such because we have a lot of players who can play various positions," he said.

"Gaby obviously has played there, as has Ben Watson.

"Being an ex-central midfielder myself, along with Robbie and Eddie, we know that you can play at full-back comfortably.

"Youssouf has done it at Paris St Germain in the past so we have players who can play in that position.

"It's not a major issue.

"We've found ourselves where a lot of games have taken its toll on some players and they need freshening up.

"But we're the second-best team in the league at the moment because we have a squad that can cope with adversity.

"We are limited in our market when it comes to loans that will improve us.

"If we go into the market now then we know we may only get a kid from a Premier League club - will they have enough experience, will they be ready? That's what you have to ask."

Appleton also offered words of encouragement to 19-year-old Mattock, who he believes is coping well considering his off-field troubles.

"Maybe it is a factor," he said.

"If it wasn't he wouldn't be human.

"I think there's been higher profile cases recently - perhaps a bit different in terms of detail - that have affected top sportsmen.

"We want to try and take him away from that and get his mind focused on football.

"For someone of a young age he's played a lot of football and the Championship is a very demanding league.

"If you're not 100 per cent physically and emotionally it can catch up with you.

"We try and concentrate on the positives - that being that he's played a lot of football and contributed a lot to our season already.

"And if he needs two or three games out so that he comes back hungrier, then that can only benefit him and the football club for the remainder of the season."