Slaven Bilic: Sam Field a part of my West Brom plans
Head coach Slaven Bilic says midfielder Sam Field has an important role to play for Albion this season.
A boyhood Baggies fan, Field returned to The Hawthorns this summer following a successful loan spell at Charlton during the 2019/20 campaign.
With competition for places in Bilic’s squad fierce, there was speculation back in August that he could leave with a host of clubs believed to be keen on his signature.
Field’s chances of first-team football haven’t been made any easier following the arrivals of Conor Gallagher and Filip Krovinovic.
But Bilic says he has belief in Field’s ability, with the boss feeling the 22-year-old is the only natural defensive midfielder in his squad. “I never said that Sam was going to go,” the head coach said when asked about Field’s future.
“It depended on the budget, I’m not going to lie.
“But I believe in him so much. I wouldn’t have kept him if he wasn’t going to get minutes or chances in the squad to play.
“I never said during pre-season he would go. On the contrary, I told him we need him and that he gives us something we don’t have in a midfielder. That can be very useful for us so I see Sam as a very important member of the squad.”
Meanwhile, Bilic admitted he is disappointed Albion fans won’t soon be able to return to stadiums to watch their team play. All football clubs were dealt a hammer blow last week when the government cancelled plans to allow fans to return to watch live sport events from tomorrow.
It had been hoped supporters would be able to return in smaller numbers while adhering to social distancing measures.
“Of course there are now new rules from the government and we were all looking forward to fans coming back slowly, or rapidly, whatever. We just want them back as soon as possible. But now we are all gutted,” said Bilic.
“It isn’t the same without supporters. It’s no good to play without fans – that is the purpose of football.
“But unfortunately, if you have to choose between playing behind closed doors or not playing at all – then you have to play behind closed doors so at least the fans have something.
“The clubs are already facing (financial) problems, otherwise, football will die, it will die.
“And that is the worst scenario.”
