West Brom teenagers to train with Swedish top flight club

Jul 31 2011 by Gregg Evans, Sunday Mercury

ALBION teenagers Sam Mantom and Paul Downing will spend next week training with Swedish top-flight side Orebro SK.

The pair will arrive at the Behrn Arena tomorrow to gain more experience at the club that Baggies head coach Roy Hodgson managed between 1983-1985.

Should the duo impress, a loan deal could be struck.

Mantom signed a new two-year deal in April after making his first-team breakthrough last season, and the 19-year-old midfielder says that his long-term aim is to become a regular in the Albion team.

“After my debut it was one of the best feelings I could ever imagine,” he said.

“I rang Paul Downing and said ‘come on mate, you’ve got to step up and get to this stage,’ it was an incredible feeling.