Malick Yalcouye has been handed a significant endorsement heading into what promises to be a pivotal period for the midfielder.
The 20-year-old began the campaign in a deep-lying midfield position during Albion’s first match of the season, a stalemate in Tromso, having also featured in pre-season clean sheets against Roma and Bologna.
He frequently found himself alone in the defensive midfield duties as team-mates Yasin Ayari and Pascal Gross pushed forward to assist Georginio Rutter.
Yalcouye, who spent the previous campaign on loan at Swansea City, showed plenty of energy and tenacity throughout the encounter.
The club have already seen James Milner depart from this position, with Carlos Baleba now anticipated to do the same.
Yalcouye gained Champions League exposure during his loan spell at Sturm Graz two years prior.
Fellow midfielder Gross has expressed admiration for what he has witnessed in recent weeks.
When pressed about Yalcouye’s performance in Tromso, Gross informed The Argus that he believed the player performed very well, describing him as an excellent footballer who demonstrated his abilities during pre-season training and put in a solid display in the match.
Both Yalcouye and winger Amario Cozier-Duberry featured in Norway after returning from their EFL loan arrangements, and other clubs are expected to monitor their situations as transfer deadline day approaches.
During his pre-match press conference ahead of the fixture against Aston Villa at home, Hurzeler stated that the club would assess how things develop with these two players.
He explained that his priority always relates to the player’s personal circumstances, identifying where they can develop most effectively and gain the most playing opportunities, particularly given their young age.
The manager emphasised that the ideal solution must benefit both the individual and the club, with transparency being key in such discussions.
He added that the focus remains on identifying where improvement is needed and where it can be best achieved, before concluding that the club would continue communicating openly with the players while monitoring the situation.