EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: West Bromwich Albion are right in the mix for promotion to the Premier League and club captain George Campbell has set out the club's minimum expectation this season

West Bromwich Albion are "desperate" for a return to the Premier League following a six-year exile, according to club captain George Campbell.

Albion have enjoyed a strong start to the 2026/27 season and sit fifth in the Championship table after winning six and drawing three of their first 12 second-tier matches.

After an impressive spell in interim charge, James Morrison was appointed as the club's new permanent head coach in the summer and he has helped spearhead a promotion push this campaign.

Going into Saturday's mouth-watering trip to third-place West Ham, the Baggies sit two points behind Swansea City in second and could find themselves inside the automatic places with a win at the London Stadium.

Should West Brom go on and win promotion, it would mark a return to the Premier League for the first time since the Covid-19 impacted 2020/21 season. And Campbell, who joined the Baggies from MLS side CF Montreal in 2025, believes his team have got a "real chance" of booking a spot back in the top flight come the end of May.

Speaking to The Mirror, Albion defender Campbell said: "I think that's everyone's dream (playing in the Premier League). Everyone at any Championship club, of course, the goal is to make the play-offs and to go up.

"And with this group, like I said, we've got a young group, a group that's very together. Yeah, I would say that's everyone's group. There's a lot of guys as well, like Jason [Roberts], for example, who has been here for four or five years who hasn't experienced that with West Brom. I think the general feeling is similar for everyone is that we're all desperate to go up. And I think this year we've got a real chance."

It's been a remarkable turnaround for the Baggies after escaping relegation and finishing 21st last season.

They recruited well in the summer, bringing the average age down with a mix of homegrown and foreign talent coming through the doors. Jimmy-Jay Morgan, 20, has impressed since his £1.3million move from Chelsea, while Nolan Galves and Felix Horn Myhre are among the other new signings to have made a positive impact.

As well as that, the Baggies managed to offload some of the club's top earners, with Alex Mowatt and Krystian Bielik moving for fees, while Jed Wallace, Karlan Grant, Daryl Dike and Josh Maja all left for free.

Albion's summer business has helped them rise up the Championship table, with 21 points from a possible 36 an excellent effort from a side that finished just outside the drop zone less than six months ago.

Although some have even tipped them to be in the conversation for the top two come the end of the campaign, Campbell has revealed that finishing in a play-off place is the minimum expectation.

"Yeah, I mean I think it's been very positive," Campbell said, when asked about Albion's start. "Obviously, you know, last year we started fairly strong as well, but I think this year we've got a bit more to our game.

"I think we've established ourselves in the league as of now. I think the guys are confident. It's been a point where we really feel like we believe we can do something special this year. So yeah, it's been a good start."

"I mean everyone in their own heads has a somewhat different perspective and somewhat different opinion, but I think the general feeling amongst the group is that, you know, we're a play-off team at the minimum," the United States international continued. "So, I think that's the bar we've kind of set.

"I think, apart from one game or one weekend, I don't think we've dropped out of the play-off spots this year yet. So, obviously we're a quarter of the way through the season already. I think the feeling is we're a play-off team at minimum, and we need to maintain that level. We've got a young group as well. So yeah, we need to just keep it going really and have a good head on our shoulders and not get too complacent really."

When Albion legend Morrison stepped in to replace Eric Ramsay back in February, they looked set for relegation to the third tier for just the second time in their history. But the Scot turned their fortunes around, winning four and drawing six of their remaining 12 matches to finish four points above the bottom three.

Morrison was handed the job on a permanent basis at the end of last season and has continued his side's momentum into this campaign with an impressive start. "I think he's someone who has been at the club for a very long time," Campbell said. "And he knows that the club, the fans and as well as the players now, inside and out.

"I think part of it last season was just getting the very basics right and putting everyone in their right position. But this year we've just added a bit more, especially with some of the assistant coaches coming in.

"We've just added a bit of that, like, togetherness and chemistry on the pitch. Just knowing how we're moving with each other, moving off each other, everyone wants the ball.

"We're trying to get everyone to be brave on the ball, building out and being aggressive off the ball in terms of pressing. So, I think really the main part is, like I said, he knows everyone in and out and their best attributes, their best positions. I think that is the most important part of anything is putting people in the right spot. And after that, the tactics come next. We've just kept it consistent and we just keep building and growing."

Next up for and Campbell and Albion is none other than a trip to title-favourites West Ham on Saturday. The Hammers, who were relegated from the Premier League back in May, sit third in the Championship but have scored the most goals in the second tier, finding the net 32 times in their 12 matches.

And Campbell, who has started in all-but one of West Brom's league matches at centre-back this season, is relishing going up against some of the best attacking players in the division.

"I think it makes it a more exciting game, to be honest (West Ham being top scorers)," he continued. "Even one of their forwards (Taty Castellanos), I played against him in MLS way back. It's always good to see former MLS players doing what they're doing.

"But, no, I think it's a testament to them and how good they've been, unlike Burnley, for example, who came down and haven't been great. So I think for us, it makes it a more exciting game.

"Obviously, the stadium is amazing. Everyone who has been there says that. I think everyone is going to be excited to play it. And, you know, the more, you know, big players or big moments there are, the more everyone wants to be involved, which I think is amazing."

"This weekend against West Ham is going to be one of our biggest tests of the year, and that'll kind of, you know, really show us where we're at in terms of playing against tougher competition, teams that play even better with the ball, you know, teams that have a higher profile of players than us," he finished. "But I think that game will give us a great idea of where we're at.