Teenage defender Max Melbourne signs two-year contract at West Brom

The 19-year-old left-back, who was an unused substitute for Albion’s home match with Crystal Palace last season, is now targeting first-team football.

And Melbourne, who spent the second half of last season at Ross County, is willing to head out on loan again next season if senior games are not forthcoming at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies currently have Kieran Gibbs at left-back, while Chris Brunt and Allan Nyom can also fill in that position.

But Melbourne is expected to be given a chance to shine during pre-season after heading out to Portugal last week with the senior squad for a training camp.

“I’m delighted to sign a new deal here and I’m really looking forward to getting started now,” said Melbourne.

“I was out of contract this summer and I knew I had to work hard to get a new one. They let me know towards the end of my loan spell in Scotland. I’ve come back ready to sign.

“I’ve been here since I was eight. West Brom has been a big part of my life. I’m looking forward to kicking on now.

“I’ve worked my way up the ranks and now I’m looking to break into first-team football.”

The Melbourne name will be well-known to Albion fans, because Max’s older brother Blake tragically died of cancer in 2011 at the age of 14 while he was an academy player.

Max, who was two years his junior, was also on Albion’s books at the time, and has subsequently risen through the ranks.

He was captain of the under-18s before heading north of the border last season to Scottish Premiership side Ross County.

“It was a great experience for me,” said Melbourne. “Being exposed to men’s football and being quite far from home really put me out of my comfort zone. It’s only made me a better player and a better person.

“Scotland’s a different ball-game but men’s football itself toughened me up. Those levels of intensity, that’s where I need to be. This season I want to play games.

“My main goal is to play first team football at West Bromwich Albion, that’s what I’ll work towards and try my very hardest to do that.”

And Melbourne enjoyed last week in Portugal with Moore and first team coach James Shan, both of whom he knows well.

“It was my second pre-season tour, you learn a lot away with the first team,” he said. “It was hard work, especially in the sun, but it was all beneficial.

“All the lads know the gaffer on a personal level and a professional level. It’s going to help me because he knows what I’m about.”