Club News

Clarke presses pause on loan moves

But boss admits there is prospect Berahino will go out at later date

STEVE Clarke insists no other players will be following Chris Wood out on loan until next month at the earliest.

The Kiwi international this week moved to Championship outfit Millwall until November 20.

But Clarke is reluctant to see the likes of Saido Berahino leave The Hawthorns while Peter Odemwingie is serving a three-match ban and his team face three games in eight days.

“There is a prospect of Saido going out on loan but at the moment it’s a no because I’ve lost Peter for three games,” said the Baggies boss.

“Over the course of the next three games we might pick up some injuries.

“I’ve spoken to Saido, he understands, and he’s happy to be around the place.

“Some days he trains with the first-team group, and he’s a good young prospect - but we’ll manage him as carefully as we can.

“We’ll make sure that he gets the appropriate amount of minutes on the pitch whether it’s for us or for someone else.”

Wood enjoyed successful loan spells in the Championship with Blues and Bristol City last term, scoring 13 goals in 26 starts and 21 substitute appearances.

And the 20-year-old is one of a batch of talented Albion youngsters being monitored by other clubs.

Clarke added: “There has been interest in a number of the younger players and only Chris Wood has gone out.

“He’ll get valuable game time at Millwall.

“He proved himself in the Championship last year and he’s scored goals at that level, so we hope that Chris goes out and does well.

“Three games in a week is a busy spell so I wouldn’t envisage anybody else going out until October.

“There’s a few less games then and there’s a possibility I might let a few of the younger ones go out.”