Source: PA
Appleton hails Baggies youngster
West Brom first-team coach Michael Appleton hailed debutant Sam Mantom after the youngster helped the Barclays Premier League side secure safe passage into the third round of the Carling Cup with a 2-0 win at Leyton Orient.
With a trip to Liverpool at the weekend, West Brom boss Roberto di Matteo was taking no chances as the likes of goalkeeper Scott Carson, Scotland midfielder Graham Dorrans and Peter Odemwingie, who scored on his debut against Sunderland, were all left on the bench at the Matchroom Stadium.
However, those handed an opportunity to impress did not disappoint, with Pablo Ibanez heading in his first goal since a summer move from Atletico Madrid on 12 minutes, and substitute Chris Wood, the New Zealand striker, slotting in a second during stoppage time.
Mantom also caught the eye, the 18-year-old England youth international having come back from a spell on loan in Iceland with Haukar ready to challenge for a first-team place.
"A couple of the Academy boys came in and made a massive contribution, Sam Mantom was outstanding in his first game for the club," said Appleton, who himself had played as a youngster in the League Cup for Manchester United in 1996.
"He is a good footballer and of all the boys we have had out of the Academy, he was one of those we knew would mature later. `He used to get knocked off the ball a lot in youth team games, but always showed that ability. It did him the world of good when he went away to Iceland in the summer and played for two months over there."
