West Brom midfielder Romaine Sawyers has claimed he still gets excited about playing alongside club captain Chris Brunt, even if it is just in training.

Brunt was at the club while Sawyers was progressing through the Baggies' youth ranks before his move to Walsall in 2013, and after returning to the club from Championship rivals Brentford during the summer transfer window, the 27-year-old still appears to be a big fan of the club captain.

Speaking to West Brom's official website about the club's aim of reaching the Premier League, Sawyers said: “The facilities are Premier League. When I arrived at The Hawthorns, coming from Brentford, we always thought: 'This is a Premier League club.' Pitch, lights, stadium...the men you are playing against.

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“Gareth Barry's career speaks for itself, Jake Livermore has played for England… Chris Brunt."

Despite the fact that the Northern Irishman has made just one, four-minute cameo in the Championship so far this season, it was Brunt that Sawyers singled out for particular praise, as he continued: “Sounds ridiculous but just playing alongside him [Brunt] still excites me. I'm in training and he's still a class act.

“He wants to push you to new boundaries – as does the manager.

"The manager's resume speaks for itself. The sports' scientists, fitness guys, everything. The cryotherapy chamber we use every single day – it's a permanent fixture – it's Premier League."

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Discussing the contribution he hopes to make to West Brom's push for promotion this season, Sawyers added: “The platform is there for us to take the next step. I need to push myself to be the best I can be and hopefully that resonates with everyone else.”

West Brom currently hold the last remaining unbeaten record in the Championship this season, with their return of three wins and four draws securing them sixth position in the league after seven games of the season.

The Baggies are next in action on Sunday afternoon, when they host struggling Huddersfield Town at The Hawthorns.

The Verdict

I think this is fantastic to see.

Even when Sawyers was a youth player coming through at The Hawthorns, Brunt will have had a considerable presence around the club, given the quality of player that he is.

It is, therefore, quite nice that he is still held in such regard around the club, even by another, well established high-quality player such as Sawyers, highlighting that Brunt really has got the recognition he deserves for his contribution to the club through the years.

While he has barely featured this season, with Sawyers talking about the quality that Brunt possesses, not to mention the standing at The Hawthorns that he holds, you feel manager Slaven Bilic will still be rather pleased to have the veteran midfielder available to him this season.