The Baggies product is targeting much more after a star showing.
Defender Alex Williams is eyeing regular action with Albion after catching the eye with his performance in the EFL Cup at Newcastle.
The 21-year-old was one of his side’s standout players in the 3-2 defeat at a sold-out St James’ Park on just his second senior start.
It came more than a year after the right-back impressed in his first-team debut against Derby in the same competition, before then-boss Ryan Mason introduced him from the bench at Stoke in the Championship.
A broken ankle on international duty scuppered progress last year, but Williams made up for lost time with a performance packed with maturity and enthusiasm against the Magpies, where he faced stars such as Lewis Hall and Harvey Barnes.
Williams has back-up role to summer recruit Nolan Galves and speculation has been rife about interest in additional possible right-back cover, but Albion’s young Welshman hopes he has put himself in the mix.
“Of course I want more,” Williams said after his performance. “I want to be in the side, I want to be competing with Nolan, I know it's tough because he's a really good player.
“But yes, as I said, my aim is to get in the first team, I want to play more games like this.
“I want to play with the lads, I want to get results. It does 100 per cent make me hungry for more, and hopefully you'll see more from me.”
He added: “It was a surreal experience, and the challenges of playing against players like Harvey Barnes and Toure, it's amazing. You learn lessons in nights like these that you'll take with you for the rest of your career.
“You can't put a price on lessons like that, so I'm really happy with it. It's a ridiculous, pinch-yourself moment. Coming up against players of that calibre, and competing as a team, I think we can be really proud of ourselves.”
But the Warwick-born Wales youth international - who trained with senior colleagues from his nation during the summer - is not about to rest on his laurels and instead has the taste for more.
“Games like that just make you hungry for more,” he vowed. “I had a little taste of it in pre-season, and I'm really looking forward to being more competitive, I want to play in the side, I want to be in the starting eleven.
Alex Williams caught the eye during brief pre-season cameos.placeholder image
Alex Williams caught the eye during brief pre-season cameos. | © SalopPhoto
Alex Williams and George Campbell during pre-season. (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)placeholder image
Alex Williams and George Campbell during pre-season. (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images) | 2026 West Bromwich Albion FC
“It's not going to be easy for me. Nolan at right-back is a top player, so I’ve got to drive myself to his standards, and hopefully you'll be seeing more from me.”
Williams is looking to follow in the footsteps of Harry Whitwell in blossoming in the first-team this season. The sight of Williams and Whitwell down the right flank at St James’ Park was an extremely proud one for supporters and in particularly the club’s academy.
Both were coached regularly by boss Morrison when he was an academy coach at The Hawthorns.
“He's been excellent,” Williams said of Morrison. “Obviously you know the gaffer, he's got to trust you for playing in games like that, and it's nice hearing from him that he wants you to come out here and put a good performance on, and you want to show him that you're ready to get in the side.
“It’s a nice feeling knowing that he has the trust at Newcastle, in front of 50,000. You can't really ask for much more, but hopefully I can build from this.”
Morrison was coy when speaking on Friday about whether he sees Williams as able to play the deputy role throughout the season, as first-choice Galves adjusts to English football. But the head coach was very impressed by the youngster’s endeavour in the north east.
“It was only his second senior game really,” Morrison said. “And obviously to play at St James' is not always easy. I felt he dealt with situations really well.
“He hadn't played that much football, really, in pre-season, but he got through the 90 minutes. And it was nice to have the two of the academy boys on the right-hand side.”
Asked if Williams had put himself in the frame as a squad regular, the Baggies boss replied: “I think everyone's in my mind by showing me from day to day and wanting to get the chance to show me in performances.”