Club News

Irvine: The squad is complete

But boss insists recent recruits need time to get up to speed with fitness

ALAN Irvine says he is happy with the squad he has assembled after today making Sebastian Blanco the final piece of the jigsaw.

But the Baggies boss insists a number of his new recruits will need time to get up to speed on the fitness front.

And that includes Albion’s 11th summer signing, Blanco, who earlier put pen to paper on a two-year deal, plus a year’s option.

“We’re done now, the work has been done,” said Irvine.

“The positions that were being targeted at the start have now been filled so that will be our squad going forward.

“There are players that we’ve got to give a bit of time to settle in.

“That’s difficult within a Premier League campaign, obviously, but we don’t have any other choice.”

The Albion chief added: “I’m praying Sebastian is in good condition but he’s another one who’s not had a proper pre-season.

“We will assess him this weekend and he’ll be in a group of lads who are going to be doing a mini-pre-season next week with a view to being closer to availability the following week.

“It’s a big ask for a lot of the boys who have come in lately, it’s a big ask for some of the boys who were on the pitch today.

“But that’s where we are just now and we’ve just got to get through that.

“What I would say is that they’re a terrific group to work with, so we’ll keep working away.”