Boston United land West Brom prospect Ollie Bostock on loan

Boston United have pulled off a major loan coup by bringing West Bromwich Albion winger Ollie Bostock to the National League until January.

The 19-year-old Welsh Under-21 international has already made his senior breakthrough at The Hawthorns, scoring once in seven Championship appearances last season before making another outing in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle United last month.

The winger has represented Wales at several age groups, with 23 international appearances to his name.

Now Bostock is looking to take the next step in his development with his first loan move away from West Brom – and he is eager to get started.

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Excite

“It’s exciting to get some games and I’m ready to go,” Bostock told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

The teenager has spent his entire career with West Brom and believes his first-team experience has already played an important role in his development.

“It’s been good,” he said. “I’ve been there my whole life, so to play in front of fans, play for the first team, score for the first team – they were all great moments.

“It definitely helped me develop as a player.”

Bostock insists his senior breakthrough did not come as a surprise: “I wouldn’t say it’s come sooner than I expected because you obviously believe in yourself and I was with the first team training for quite a while before I got them games.

“You never put a time on when it’s going to happen.”

And the winger has no doubts about what he wants to bring to the Pilgrims.

“Direct, like attacking football, trying to excite people and make things happen, create chances, score goals.”

Attacking threat

Boston boss Paul Hurst had a loan place available and saw an opportunity to add another attacking option to his squad.

“We still had a place available to us in terms of a loan option and Ollie is someone that’s very well thought of and I wanted to see if we could try and get another attacking player in,” Hurst told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

“I think bringing him in gives us better options and more options in terms of changing formation but he can also play in the current formation that we have and play as one of the number 10s.

“He’s another attacking threat for us.”

Bostock’s arrival will also increase competition for places, something Hurst accepts can have consequences for other members of his squad.

Competition

“I kind of said this to the players, it’s the harsh reality of football that in my position I’ve got to first and foremost look after the football club.

“I’ll try and look after the players as much as I can and have good relationships but the biggest thing is we’re trying to be, as a group, be successful.

“If that’s bringing someone else in [that] adds more competition [or] maybe knocks someone out of the matchday squad etc that’s just the way it is.

“But we’re still not going to have a huge squad where you know you’re never going to get a chance to be part of it.”

Bostock could make his Boston debut against Wealdstone this Saturday.

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