Martin Cranie is training with West Bromwich Albion ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, although he isn’t looking to earn himself a contract at the Hawthorns.  

After switching Huddersfield for Middlesbrough back in January, Cranie is now a free agent, after Middlesbrough released him at the conclusion of the 2017/18 campaign.

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According to the Birmingham Mail, Cranie, alongside Kieran Richardson, is training with West Brom, but purely for fitness reasons, with neither player looking to earn a contract with Darren Moore’s side ahead of the new season.

Cranie made just nine appearances for Middlesbrough during the second-half of last season, with Tony Pulis opting to use other options as the Teessiders went in search of promotion.

Just one of those appearances came in the starting XI, with the 31-year-old making eight appearances from the bench for Boro.

Alongside Cranie, Richardson is also training to keep his fitness levels high over the course of pre-season.

The 33-year-old, who hasn’t played a competitive game in 18 months, previously played for West Brom in the Premier League in 2005, helping the Baggies avoid relegation in dramatic fashion.

The Verdict

The report claims that Cranie isn’t training to earn a contract, but that could change, of course.

The 31-year-old has a wealth of experience, and if he impresses Moore, he could well be involved in some capacity next season.

It’ll be interesting to see how this develops in the coming weeks, with West Brom's gesture potentially opening the door to a deal.

Should West Brom sign Cranie? Let us know your thoughts!

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