West Brom boss cautiously excited by impact of lightning new winger Kareem Tunde

Boss James Morrison is cautiously optimistic of lightning new recruit Kareem Tunde’s ability to make an immediate Albion impact.

Winger Tunde, who recently turned 21, checked into The Hawthorns from Levante on an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £2.5million, on Thursday to become the Baggies’ eighth new addition of the summer.

The Spaniard is the answer to Morrison’s winger desires and, as well as midfield addition Rabby Nzingoula, adds some much-needed pace to Albion’s squad.

Tunde met with his colleagues and new boss on Thursday after watching Albion impress at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. He stayed with new colleagues at their Durham base and Albion trained at the facilities at National League North outfit Spennymoor Town. Tunde could be in Morrison’s squad to face Middlesbrough on Saturday lunchtime and, while the head coach admitted a period of grace could be needed, he is hopeful the livewire can become influential as soon as possible.

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"He trained today for the first time, I had 45 minutes with him yesterday as well,” Morrison said on Friday.

"He's got good English, speaks well, it's a big opportunity for him as a young lad, coming into a new culture at 21.”

The head coach added: "You're always hopeful they can make an instant impact, but I think you've got to give him a little bit of grace time.

"It's a new country, new way of playing and we're getting him settled. The first bit is getting him somewhere to live, and all of that, but the club are working really hard to help him settle in.

"His really good English, is a big plus. I'm not sure we've got many Spanish speakers!

"With wingers, that's always the case, isn't it (to excite)? They're in the team to get people off the seats in one-v-one situations.

"I'm excited to see him on the pitch, but we've got to be cautious as well. He's obviously played 20-odd times in La Liga last year, so he's played at a top level."

Albion lost wide players Jed Wallace and Karlan Grant earlier in the summer - the latter who they tried to keep - and as such a natural wide threat was missing from the squad.

Isaac Price and Harry Whitwell have enjoyed excellent starts to the season in the ‘wide’ positions, but are playing more inverted roles, where Morrison sees a lot of their natural, best work.

"He's an exciting prospect and exciting player,” Morrison added of Tunde. “We're delighted to have him. It gives us different options now. I felt we've missed that little bit, to stretch opposition. Kareem's got that pace and power.

"It was important for the club to recognise we needed some younger players in. It gives you an opportunity to build them up and helps the club if they progress like we believe they will. They've shown great character and have really integrated well, which is down to the lads already here.”

Albion aim to continue their exciting early form in the new campaign with a testing clash at Middlesbrough in Saturday’s early clash.

Boro opened up by seeing off Lincoln in the Championship before last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn.

Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough were victorious in the EFL Cup in midweek with a 3-1 victory at League One Doncaster.