Sam Allardyce hails West Brom’s coaching strength

The Dudley-born chief arrived at The Hawthorns back in December with trusted lieutenant Sam Lee also coming in as assistant manager.

Robbie Stockdale, who Allardyce worked with at Sunderland, also joined as a coach while Baggies legend James Morrison was promoted from the under-23s to work with the first-team.

But the rest of the staff at the club, which includes analysts, physios and fitness staff, Allardyce inherited.

They have all, though, impressed the 66-year-old – who also believes Morrison and Stockdale will enjoy long coaching careers.

"James Morrison knows everything about West Brom – he knows the club inside out," Allardyce said when asked what the Baggies legend brings to his backroom team.

"He can give us an insight into the background of the club. And he has palled up with Robbie Stockdale.

"They both come from Middlesbrough and I think that combination together breeds a very healthy backroom staff.

"That’s along with my right-hand-man, a man who is massively experienced at every level of football in Sammy Lee.

Working with him, they (Morrison and Stockdale) have a wealth of experience they can work with to help them grow.

"But it’s not just those guys, the fitness coaches, the strength and conditioning coaches, the physio's, the doctors.

"They have kept a very healthy squad here. A lot of credit has to go to them because we have had very few problems with injuries.

"We’ve had problems with the consistency of our performances. But we’ve had very few problems where the physio has walked in the door and said you’ve got six or seven injured Sam.

"We have managed to avoid that brilliantly which has given us the best chance of getting results.

"I’m very pleased with the backroom staff I inherited and the players because our performances have consistently got better.

"But sadly we haven’t got enough wins."