West Brom boss Carlos Corberan conducted his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Portsmouth

Pre-match press conferences usually take place at West Bromwich Albion’s Walsall training base, but on Friday we met with Carlos Corberan at The Hawthorns. Albion were conducting their squad photo for the day, which meant all 25 members of Corberan’s squad, along with his staff, were in attendance.

Aside from Daryl Dike, and perhaps Jayson Molumby – although his issue is potentially a minor one – Corberan is leading his side to Portsmouth this weekend knowing he’ll have to leave a handful of first-team players out of the 20-strong group which is named on the match-day team-sheet.

Albion have begun the campaign impressively, and now have a squad which appears to have struck a balance; after the additions of Mikey Johnston and Mason Holgate on transfer deadline day, Corberan has a depth of quality and numbers in personnel. Two players, at least, are vying for each position. It’s a promising concoction.

READ: The inside track on Mikey Johnston’s transfer and how he left it at Celtic

“I don’t have any players I don’t like,” Corberan says. “Every player we have at the club has something which makes him special. Including Dike, we have 22 pitch players and it’s important that all of these players are ready to play in the team.

“You can only involve 20 of 25, which means five good players are going to be out of the squad. You can only play with 11, plus five subs – so even then, one keeper and three pitch players aren’t going to play. I would like a pre-season where you don’t lose international players! I like to have many possibilities as it increases the level of the squad and we have a lot of possibilities.”

Albion secured deals for Uros Racic and Callum Styles in the closing weeks of the transfer window; Styles arrived on a permanent basis, while Racic has joined on a season-long loan from Serie B side Sassuolo. With Molumby a doubt to face Pompey on Sunday (KO 3pm), Corberan could have his first significant selection call to make if the Irishman doesn’t pull through – but he’s hardly lacking in alternatives.