Club News

McAuley 'excited' by Albion prospects

New signings have given centre-half cause for optimism

GARETH McAuley admits he is ‘excited’ by what the rest of the season holds for Albion after seeing the club’s new signings announce themselves with a bang.


The Baggies are on a Barclays Premier League four-game unbeaten run since the transfer window closed on September 2.


And yesterday’s impressive 1-1 draw with Arsenal, on the back of a sensational 2-1 victory at reigning champions Manchester United, has given McAuley huge cause for optimism.


“We got some really good players in through the door and we’re seeing that already,” said the towering centre-half.


“They have settled straight into the team and, especially going forward, they are very exciting.


“They are different types of players to what we had. 


“We now have dribblers in the team and players who can take a game to opponents and create something.


“It’s exciting times and we’ve just got to keep our feet on the ground and keep going.


“If you look around now we’ve got a very strong squad.


“There are good lads not making the bench and that can only help everyone with their performances, their application and everything they do every day, to make sure they’re getting in the squad and into the team.


“When you’re in the team you know somebody is trying to take your shirt off you and that can only be positive.


“Touch wood we won’t have any injuries, but we certainly have players who can step into the team.”


McAuley is now away with Northern Ireland on international duty and is relishing returning to action with the Baggies at Stoke on Saturday week (ko 3pm).


“We will have surprised a few people and that’s good for us because we believed in ourselves and stuck together and have come away with two great results," he added.

 

“We’re not surprised ourselves because we expect that of each other every day in training.


“The start of the season was disappointing because we weren’t doing what we do as a team, but we know if we do that we can get results.


“When we come back we’ve got important games coming up.”