Midfielder eager to maintain momentum against Stoke
YOUSSOUF Mulumbu has called on his team-mates to ensure the international break does not disrupt Albion’s momentum as they prepare to visit Stoke on Saturday (ko 3pm).
The Baggies’ 1-1 draw with Arsenal made it four Barclays Premier League games unbeaten.
But Steve Clarke has had to wait ten days since then for nine first-team players to return from duty with their countries.
And Mulumbu is eager for Steve Clarke’s 12th-placed men to pick up where they left off, with the DR Congo star using last month’s 2-1 win at Manchester United as the benchmark.
“We need to be steady with our work because the Premier League is a long season, with strong teams,” he said.
“We need to use Old Trafford and the Arsenal game as references and I think that will build up our confidence.
“The international break will probably help those players who felt a little bit of fatigue.
“But for me I would have preferred it not to come because we were in a good period.
“We need to be focused again against Stoke and if we win against Stoke I think we’ll be in a good position in the top half of the table.
“So, we need to reply against Stoke on Saturday to see if we can carry on the momentum.
“I’m really confident.
“I know the guys that have been around have been training really hard all week – and I know the internationals will be focused and ready.
“I hope everyone is going to be fit and ready for the fight on Saturday.”
And Mulumbu is excited to see how the blend of old and new in the Baggies squad continues to develop.
“We knew we had great players come in towards the end of the window, like Sessegnon and Morgan,” he added.
“And players like Matej, who has been helping push us in training.
“We are strong now but I was confident before because we had a good season last season, when we finished eighth.
“We continue to progress with good players.
“We still have our core with Fozzy, Jonas and Gareth McAuley.
“I knew we were going to be strong and that is what we showed at Old Trafford and at home to Arsenal.”