West Bromwich Albion have appointed Michael Appleton as their new under-23s manager.

The 43-year-old returns to the club to fill the gap recently left by Jamie Smith, who left to join Doncaster Rovers as Darren Moore’s number two.

Appleton spent three years as a player for the Baggies before having to retire from football prematurely due to injury problems in 2004, taking up a coaching role in the club’s youth set up.

He spent eight years at the Hawthorns in various coaching roles, including assistant manager and caretaker manager, but left in 2011 to pursue his own career in management.

Appleton managed multiple clubs but was most successful at Oxford United before joining Leicester City as assistant manager.

The Englishman returned to West Brom at the end of last season to serve as Jimmy Shan’s assistant manager and has now accepted the offer of the role with the under-23s.

Speaking to the club website, Appleton said: “I know the club so well - it will be my third spell and that certainly helps.

“It’s an opportunity for me to hopefully use the skills I’ve developed in terms of developing players and helping with that transition from being potentially good players to fully-fledged members of the first team.

“There’s some good talent in the football club. We’ve got to get the blend right in being really competitive and successful on the pitch and being able to do that with the talent we bring through.”

West Brom’s sporting and technical director Luke Dowling added: “We’re delighted to welcome Michael back into the club and into this role.

“He buys into what we are trying to deliver and the players he will be coaching and developing will be excited to be working under him.”

Dowling indicated that the club were looking to make further appointments related to the academy over the next few weeks.

The Verdict

Many people will remember Appleton for his brief spell with Leicester as assistant manager, and later as caretaker manager, but his time at Oxford is perhaps more relevant for this role.

He put faith in some young players during his spell at the Kassam Stadium, getting the team promoted to League One and twice reaching the final of the EFL Trophy.

The Baggies have had some exciting young players, such as Rekeem Harper, come through over the past few years and bringing in someone who knows the club like Appleton to aid their development looks a good move.