Matty Phillips has committed his future to the club by signing a contract extension which runs until the summer of 2024.
The forward is Albion’s current longest serving first-team player, having signed from QPR in the summer of 2016.
Phillips has made 172 appearances during five years in blue and white stripes, scoring a total of 23 goals in four different competitions.
And Valérien Ismaël says Matty’s versatility across midfield and the front three makes him a crucial asset.
“We have a front three - our ‘7’, ‘9’ and ‘11’ - and Matt can play all three positions,” said the boss.
“We have some players in the squad who are able to play many positions, and Matt is one of those players.
“He showed us early in pre-season that even the ‘9’ position is a position for him, I believe.
“He is very intelligent in terms of reflecting well, and he comes all the time to us for more videos, more information and how to solve problems.
“It shows, simply, his professionalism. This is exactly what we need. The right player, with the right mentality and with quality.
“If you are 18 or 30 it doesn’t matter, as long as you have the right mentality, the right focus and the desire on the pitch. I think that Matt is the perfect example for our way.”
