West Brom summer signing makes instant impact after sealing loan switch
The defender checked in as a summer arrival from Liverpool and is a youngster the Baggies have hope for the future.
Albion prospect Carter Pinnington made an instant impact as he marked his senior debut with an important win for new loan club Solihull Moors.
The 19-year-old centre-back joined the Baggies in the summer from Liverpool, to initially link up with Leigh Downing’s under-21s.
He made a loan switch to struggling National League outfit Solihull Moors on Tuesday and was immediately thrust in for a debut - and also a first senior appearance - with the Moors.
And Pinnington’s presence made a difference as he helped inspire Solihull to a 4-2 victory at Woking. Solihull were off bottom spot by goal difference heading into the clash but put some welcome breathing room between themselves and the foot of the table with the win.
Baggies teen Pinnington, who trained with James Morrison’s squad during pre-season, was not fazed by a new-look defensive line-up as he partnered former Wolves and Shrewsbury Town defender Chey Dunkley after the Wolverhampton-born stopper also checked in on loan from Chesterfield hours earlier.
Ex-Albion youth product Jamie Andrews netted twice with his first Solihull goals against former club Woking to secure the win.
Moors assistant boss Andy Cooper said: “It was a good game for them to come into because it’s a proper National League contest.
“You’re going to get the ball put on you early and I thought they dealt with it really well. They won their headers when they needed to, were really brave in the box and got the tackles and clearances in.
“They were really strong debuts.”
Wirral-born Pinnington was at Liverpool for more than a decade, where he was highly-regarded, before moving to The Hawthorns during the summer on a three-year contract.
Former England under-18 international Pinnington had been a regular in the Baggies’ under-21s, with five 90-minute appearances this season.
His loan deal at Solihull is an initial three months until the new year.
Pinnington joins Cole Deeming at Hartlepool, Alex Williams with Hibernian and Ollie Bostock, who moved to Boston United, as Baggies youngsters to have headed out on loan since the transfer deadline closed. Defender Jamal Mohammed joined King’s Lynn Town last week and goalkeeper Brian Okonkwo has moved to Leamington.
Meanwhile, star Albion midfielder Ousmane Diakite won his second cap for Mali with the final moments of African Cup of Nations qualifying action away to Liberia.
For the powerhouse Baggies man it was a competitive debut for his nation having won his first cap for Mali in a friendly with Russia in March.
Diakite was a stoppage-time substitute for Brentford star Mamadou Sangare to see the match out as visitors Mali claimed a late 1-0 victory to make it two wins from two. Mali play a friendly in Tunisia on Saturday.
Defender George Campbell was an unused substitute as United States of America beat Chile 4-2 in a friendly. The Albion captain made his second appearance for the USA last Saturday.
America face Mexico in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Jayson Molumby and Max O’Leary are vying to feature for the Republic of Ireland in Thursday’s Nations League clash against Austria, while Chris Mepham’s Wales face off against Erling Haaland’s Norway.