McAuley: Baggies signed players with mental strength

Cape Town - West Brom defender Gareth McAuley believes the injection of experienced heads at the club has helped propel them up the Premier League standings.

Manager Tony Pulis brought in Jonny Evans and Darren Fletcher from Manchester United shortly after he took over as Baggies boss, ahead of adding Nacer Chadli from Tottenham.

McAuley believes the addition of these players, who are used to playing at a high level with big teams, has helped instill a winning mentality at the Hawthornes. 

“It’s confidence and belief,” he said. “A shift in mentality with the likes of Jonny, Fletch and Nacer.

“They’ve been at clubs at the top end of the Premier League and are used to winning against teams battling in the bottom half or mid-table.

“They’re used to doing that and that’s maybe helped the rest of the group.”

West Brom are eighth in the Premier League standings, five points clear of Stoke City in ninth.

The Baggies next fixture will see Pulis' side welcome Bournemouth to The Hawthorns in an English Premiership clash on Saturday.

Kick off is at 17:00.