Thorne pens another new deal

Published Aug. 23, 2011 9:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

The 18-year-old midfielder, who is in Albion's travelling squad for Tuesday night's Carling Cup second-round tie at Bournemouth, has penned a new and improved three-year deal, plus a further year's option in the club's favour. It comes after the Academy graduate, who made his Premier League debut as a second-half substitute on the final day of last season, only last month signed a two-year deal with a further 12-month option. Manager Roy Hodgson said: "I have been very pleased with George since I arrived at the club. As a coach, I'm also very pleased that his efforts this season have been rewarded with a new contract. "It is a result of the fact he has become a bona fide member of our first-team squad and he is a player we very much hope will continue to develop and progress as rapidly as he has done in the past six months. He has shown himself to be a good professional who knows what it requires to take the next step in his career. "George realises only hard work will get him there and we have to hope the effort he is putting into training sessions, which is admirable, continues to pay off."