Foster tips his cap to Baggies first-timer Field

With 11 years of Premier League experience, West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster has certainly been around the block a few times.

But the Baggies stopper admitted he had been blown away by debutant Sam Field’s first appearance for the club this weekend.

Playing in the middle of the park during a dour 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough, local boy and lifelong West Brom fan Field gave the home fans something to cheer about.

The 18-year-old completed a stunning 92% of his 37 passes before being replaced in the 76th minute by Craig Gardner to a standing ovation.

And Albion’s Foster is adamant that in the England under-18 international, his side have discovered a diamond in the rough.

“Sam was brilliant against Middlesbrough,” he said. “He is an absolutely fantastic young lad.

“He has an experienced head on such young shoulders and to be starting a game in the Premier League at 18 is a great achievement for him.

“He gets hold of the ball and he is very elegant and classy in the way that he plays the game.

“He works hard every day in training and is a really top lad with hopefully a very bright future ahead of him.”