Callum Styles Embraces Leadership Role at West Bromwich Albion

Callum Styles admits he has had to grow up fast at West Bromwich Albion.

A summer clear-out at The Hawthorns stripped away much of the side’s older core, with three players over 30 departing along with Karlan Grant, Kristian Bielik and Josh Maja. Seven new signings came through the door, all aged 23 or under. Suddenly, at 26, the left-back finds himself near the top of the age ladder.

That changes your responsibilities. And Styles knows it.

"I think that's natural [to step into leadership] when you've played a lot of games in the Championship and you're getting older season by season," he told BBC Radio WM.

The dressing room has shifted. The experienced voices are fewer, the fresh faces many. Those who remain from last season now carry extra weight.

"Quite a few of us that were here last year feel like it's our role to then get the new lads adjusted to the league, to the team and to the physicality as quickly as possible," Styles said.

That means leading by example on the pitch, not just talking about it.

"We've got to show that through us working hard ourselves and then obviously helping them off the pitch."

A younger West Brom, with a 26-year-old full-back among its elder statesmen. The question now is how quickly this new core can harden into a promotion-chasing side.