Reyes Cleary says he will be pushing to add more goals to his tally when Albion’s PL2 side host Nottingham Forest at The Hawthorns on Monday night (ko 7pm).
The Baggies youngster has been in fine form for Richard Beale’s under-21s, netting 12 goals in seven appearances across all competitions this term.
As well as maintaining his high level of performances for the PL2 team, the young forward has enjoyed more important steps at senior level this season - making his first league outings in navy-blue-and-white against Reading and Bristol City in October.
And the 18-year-old believes his time around the first-team setup will only be beneficial in his development, as the in-form striker looks to help the Baggies’ young stars extend their unbeaten run to seven league games against Forest.
“The team’s working hard for every game, and that just pushes me to score goals,” said Cleary.
“I want to lead from the front and if I’m having a good week in the build-up to games, or even in the warm-up before kick-off, I feel confident I can carry that into the matches and score.
“Being in the right place has been key for me, but one-on-ones are something I’ve been working on a lot recently. We do a high press and when we win it back, it usually comes to me so I’m the outlet when that happens and it encourages me to use my pace to get in behind.
“I’ve tried to use my experience in the U21s when stepping up to the first team. But when I’ve had that chance, I’ve had to be a bit smarter. Defenders want to fight with strong strikers and one thing I would do if I get the chance to play in the first team again is to play more freely.
“I felt I was being a bit safe in the games I played because I didn’t want to give the ball away. I’ve bonded with the first-team squad and they know what I can do on the pitch, so it won’t be a new experience if I join them again.
“We’ve had a good start to the season in the PL2 team, and last season we suffered a bad result against Forest.
“But this year we’ve got younger, hungrier players and we’re ready to fight and go again on Monday.”
How to follow the game
Tickets will be available for Albion’s PL2 clash with Nottingham Forest at The Hawthorns on Monday night.
Season ticket holders can watch the match for free, while the prices stand at £5 for adults and just £1 for juniors.
Tickets can be bought on the gate of the Halfords Lane stand.
Alternatively, season ticket holders and members can also enjoy a live stream of the match. Click here and log in with your My Albion account linked to your season ticket or membership.
The stream will begin 10 minutes before kick-off (6.50pm).
If you haven’t yet set up your account click here for instructions.
