Club News

Downing: We're ready for Italian job

Joint-assistant head coach pleased with pre-season progress

KEITH Downing believes Albion are heading into tomorrow's clash with Serie A outfit Genoa at AFC Telford’s New Bucks Head in good nick (ko 7.30pm).   

The Baggies go into the friendly on the back of three successive pre-season victories – after completing a 3-1 win over Greek Superleague outfit Atromitos on Monday.

Tickets for this game, which are priced £15 adults and £10 concessions, remain on sale at .www.buckstickets.co.uk Alternatively, supporters will be able to pay on the turnstiles.

And Albion’s joint-assistant head coach is pleased with the progress the players have made since returning to training on July 8. 

“We’re three and a half weeks into pre-season and this week is probably our busiest of all,” said Downing.

“We have three games in six days.

“The results so far are going well and I thought the performance on Monday was good. Atromitos was a different test to Saturday’s game at Derby.

“Everything is progressing nicely and people are getting good game time.

“For example, we had a different back four on Monday to Saturday.

“Also, Chris [Brunt] and James [Morrison] got another 45 minutes against Atromitos, which was good.

“Everyone is at the right place.

“We’re very conscious of the injury side of things but, fortunately, everything has gone well.

“Players are asking for double shifts and we’re cutting back on some of the training because of the progress that’s been made.”