Who is Michael Parker? The ex-Burnley defender called up by Tony Mowbray to West Brom squad

The headlines involved the big name absentees such as Tom Fellows and Kyle Bartley - but the team news at Turf Moor also led to two other questions, with Mowbray naming a young Baggies duo not seen in the first team squad before.

Jamal Mohammed, who signed a professional contract in 2024, has featured in pre-season games, most notably back in the summer of 2023.

He was joined on the substitutes bench at Turf Moor by Michael Parker, a player who has only been at Albion for a matter of months but has seemingly already made a big impression.

The left footed defender was formerly on the books with Tuesday evening's opponents, but who is he, and could be a potential first team prospect at The Hawthorns?

Who is Michael Parker?

The 20-year-old central defender has had a varied youth career, that has already seen him feature at a handful of clubs.

Born in London, Parker was taken on by Huddersfield Town in 2021 after being plucked from grassroots football and coming into the academy system later than most other players.

He departed the club in 2023, but according to reports, quickly came on to the radar of a number of clubs.

Parker was linked with moves to SPL giants Rangers, Stoke City and reportedly Albion, but after a successful trial at League One Shrewsbury Town, he penned a deal with the Shropshire club.

He had trained with Salop during the final weeks of the 2022/23 campaign, and was on the fringes of the first team squad.

However, midway through the 23/24 campaign, Parker was on the move again as he signed a deal with Championship side Burnley, having been taken to the club by David Longwell, a former academy manager who had joined the Clarets.

Parker then moved on in the summer, and was snapped up Albion in September. He quickly made his way into Richard Beale's under 21 side, putting in impressive displays both as a centre half and a left back.

What have they said?

Beale spoke to the Express & Star about Parker earlier this season - and outlined why Albion sought to bring in the defender, and highlighted the qualities and attributes he brings.

He said: "Michael was released from Burnley and we decided to take him, and sometimes you can pick those lads up and might be able to find something in them that others couldn't, and give them a career here in the first team or somewhere else.

"Ideally we hone them in for our first team.

"Michael has come in and hit the ground running, he has waited for his minutes on the pitch and he has lots of good attributes, he is big and quick, has a long throw which is big in the modern game.

"He is working hard and hopefully we can get him to the next level."