New Albion signing Jordan Hugill believes his style of play and Valérien Ismaël’s philosophy are the “perfect fit”.
The powerful forward, who has made more than 100 appearances in the last three years in the Sky Bet Championship, will spend the 2021/22 campaign at The Hawthorns after penning a one-year loan from Norwich City.
Hugill is a huge admirer of the intense pressing and front-foot football the boss demands from his players, revealing it was one of the main attractions when considering the move.
And the former QPR, Middlesbrough and Preston North End man insists he has a really “positive feeling” about joining.
He said: “I’ve managed to speak to the manager a couple of times already and I feel very positive about everything.
“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t get a good feeling from the club and from the manager.
“I just can’t wait to get started.
“His style of management and the way he wants his team to play suits my style 100 per cent.
“I think that’s maybe why the boss looked at me as a potential option to come here because he remembers me from playing against his Barnsley side last year.
“It’s certainly nice to know he thinks my style suits the way he wants to play. It seems like a perfect fit.
“I know what will be expected of me and I’m excited to try and implement all of the gaffer’s ideas. It’s certainly an exciting way to play.”
The 29-year-old will fight for the right to earn a spot in the starting XI.
And Jordan is a firm believer competition for places in a squad is only ever beneficial.
“You’ve got to have competition in a changing room. If you don’t have competition then you don’t have anything to push you to do better.
“I personally believe competition brings the best out in people and it certainly brings the best out in me.
“If you want to be a successful team then having competition for places is crucial.
“There are plenty of attacking players here with plenty of quality so I know I’ll need to work hard to force my way into the team.”
