Leko makes top flight debut
TONY Pulis claimed Albion's Academy products were the best he'd seen - after handing Jonathan Leko his Premier League debut.
The 16-year-old came on for the final 12 minutes of Albion's 0-0 draw at Sunderland.
After the game, Pulis spoke highly of the England U17 international.
The Academy has some very talented kids. It's the best club I've been at in terms of quality of talent.
But our players have to be loaned at when possible. They have to be tested in the correct places.
It's like shadow boxing. I've seen some great boxers when they have their head guards on. But then they wilt when they remove the head guard. It's the same in football.
We need to harden these players up. They are playing for the team, supporters, the people paying their wages. It's a massive part of their development.
This was a big occasion for Jon and he will learn from it.
The draw takes Albion to 40 points - a haul that Pulis believes will ensure top flight football.
I'm pleased. With a few games left to go to get to 40 is first class because we have some tough games coming up.
It's been an unusual season -when you look at Villa, Newcastle, Sunderland... nobody should ever take anything for granted in this league.
We got beat by Norwich - that was very disappointing.
But today we showed resilience even though we should have done a lot better in possession of the ball, especially in the second-half.
I'm pleased for the football club.
We're in the Premier League - that's fantastic
Albion's star performer on the day was Ben Foster. Pulis was impressed
Ben has been like that since he's come back. People forget we didn't have him for six months.
But he's a fantastic keeper and done very well today.