Skipper impressed by new boss

Chris Brunt has given Steve Clarke his backing after the Albion captain spoke to the new Baggies boss on the telephone.

Clarke called Brunt to outline his plans ahead of his unveiling as the new West Brom head coach at a press conference on Monday. And Brunt was impressed with the 48-year-old Scot, who has big shoes to fill in the wake of Roy Hodgson's move to the England job. Brunt told the Express and Star: "I spoke to him on the phone and he sounds very enthusiastic about the new job and the good thing about having a new manager is that it gives everybody a clean slate. "It was great to get a call from him and I can't wait to get back into training in July and meet him properly. "He's been a first-team coach or assistant manager at big clubs in the Premier League for as long as I can remember. The club have given him this opportunity because he has done a good job wherever he has been." Brunt was unsurprised by the club's choice of head coach and says the ex-Chelsea and Liverpool number two appears to have a lot in common with the man he is following. He said: "I'm not surprised by the appointment, because if you look at Steve, he has a lot in common with Roy and he likes to get out and coach. "We've got used to a manager who will be heavily involved in coaching."