'I want more and more...' West Brom prospect outlines ambition

Midfielder Whitwell, 19, has been one of the academy's highly-regarded prospects for several years and made his league debut in Saturday's 5-3 final-day win over Luton.

It came the best part of a year-and-a-half after Oxford-born Whitwell's senior Baggies bow in the FA Cup over Aldershot in January 2024.

He enjoyed an encouraging first-team debut with several bright moments in the final third. The midfielder said the buzz of playing in front of supporters, and even hearing his name chanted by the home crowd, left him determined for more.

“As soon as the final whistle went, I felt hungry for more," Whitwell said. "Just playing in front of all the fans today was amazing, I even heard a little chant with my name in!

“Stuff like that, I want more and more. I’ll keep trying to perfect my game as much as possible, and then kick on next season.”

Whitwell joined Albion aged 12 after a brief spell for his hometown club Oxford. He penned a first professional deal on his 17th birthday and last summer agreed a new deal until 2026.

“I’m over the moon,” Whitwell added of his Championship run-out. “Especially to end the season like that, it’s a great feeling.

“After all the hard work over the last 10 years - I’ve been in the academy since I was 12 - it’s a good day. I’m happy.

“I was always hoping the moment would come. Today, for it to happen, I’m over the moon.

“He (James Morrison) wanted to win the game so was very much focused on the job at hand - and it’s a bonus he put me on. I’m very thankful for that.

“I was warming up in a bit of hope. Then Grady (Diangana) came and told me to be ready in the next five minutes or so. That’s when I realised it was happening."

Whitwell is yet to taste extended first-team action away on loan from The Hawthorns. He was close to a move to League Two outfit Cheltenham Town in January but a deal was unable to be finalised.

He has shone for Richard Beale's under-21s for a number of seasons and was highly-rated by former boss Carlos Corberan, under whom Whitwell was never far from first-team training.

Rangy Whitwell generally plays as box-to-box midfielder with athleticism to help him make a mark both going forward and in his own half. Though he is typically more at home making runs in the final third, something Baggies had a glimpse of against the Hatters.

Whitwell admitted he regretted not getting a shot away in one late instance where, in front of the Birmingham Road end, he opted for a square pass to find Karlan Grant as opposed to letting fly.

“At the end of the day, I was happy with how I played," he said. "I felt like my touches were good. I should have had a shot though, when I won the ball off their midfielder, but next time hopefully.

“I thought the defender was going to come to me, but as soon as I played it, he moved out - so I probably could have gone through the middle. But hopefully there will be more chances to come."