Football
PA Sport 8y

West Brom's Tony Pulis set to debut 16-year-old Kane Wilson

West Brom boss Tony Pulis is ready to make Kane Wilson the Premier League's first 21st Century boy.

The 16-year-old defender could make his league debut against Middlesbrough on Sunday to become the first player born since 2000 to play in the top flight, just days after he picked up his GCSE results.

Wilson, who was born in March 11, 2000, earned two As four Bs and five Cs -- although only managed a B in PE -- on Thursday after making his Baggies debut 48 hours before.

He replaced Brendan Galloway in the second half of Albion's EFL Cup defeat at Northampton and with Everton loanee Galloway struggling with a hamstring injury boss Pulis would have no hesitation in playing Wilson.

"No, not at all, he's a fantastic lad,'' he said. "Kane needs work in certain areas, because he still gets very flat on the ball and his positional sense at times is poor but he is only 16 years of age and when you look at his attributes he's a very, very good athlete, he has great touch and great composure.

"I really do think he has a bright future but as I have said -- and I have had him into my office on numerous occasions -- it is keeping your feet on the ground and not getting carried away. You see so many people who get in and play well but then lose their way, but these will be managed properly, there is no way they will get away with that at this football club.

"Fingers crossed they [Wilson and fellow youngsters Jonathan Leko and Sam Field] will just get better and better. I am hoping this season will be a breakthrough for them, that they will get quite a few games and then they will just keep going forward.''

Castle Bromwich-born Wilson has emerged through the Baggies' academy and has been an unused substitute in their first two Premier League games this season.

He received his exam results on Thursday but admitted he was disappointed with his grade in PE.

"My family came to pick me up from training and they had been to collect my results from my school,'' he told the club's official site.

"I couldn't wait and had to open them in the car. When I read the results out we all went crazy, I was delighted with them.

"I got A's in ICT and citizenship and then B's in English and physics. I only got a B in PE, though, so I don't know what has gone wrong there, I'm gutted about that.''

^ Back to Top ^