14 days to Premier League season: Another season of mid-table mediocrity for West Brom

With 14 days to go until the start of the new Premier League season, Jon Turner takes a look at what the year could have in store for West Bromwich Albion.

• More: 2016/17 Premier League fixtures in UAE time

The National's sports team is counting down the days until defending champions Leicester City take on newly promoted Hull City in the opening fixture of the 2016/17 English Premier League season by looking at one team a day. Today, West Bromwich Albion.

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A club that traditionally yo-yoed between the Premier League and the Championship, West Bromwich Albion have been comfortably assured of their place in the top flight since earning promotion in 2010. In the past six seasons, West Brom’s finishes read: 11th, 10th, 8th, 17th, 13th, 14th.

It is sure to be another season of mid table mediocrity for the Midlands club. It seems their most talented player, striker Saido Berahino, will leave before the start of the season, with Stoke City the most likely destination.

However, Berahino was not exactly an integral part of Tony Pulis’s side last season, and while the manager would surely rather have his ability at his disposal, his exit would not spell disaster. A lot will rest on Venezuelan forward Salomon Rondon, who showed glimpses of his ability last season.

Expect a defensively solid side that will be capable of beating any team on a given day, but will, for better or worse, ultimately be excluded from the end-of-season narrative.

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Previously

• Hull City: Promoted club had unstable summer

• Middlesbrough: Hopes lie largely in Spaniards

• Burnley: Third time the charm?

• Sunderland: Moyes the make or break factor in survival hopes

• Bournemouth: Well placed to avoid 'second season syndrome'

• Crystal Palace: Time to deliver on all that talent

Still to come

• Tomorrow: Watford

• Monday: Swansea City

• Tuesday, Aug 2: Everton

• Wednesday, Aug 3: Chelsea

• Thursday, Aug 4: Stoke City

• Friday, Aug 5: Liverpool

• Saturday, Aug 6: West Ham United

• Sunday, Aug 7: Southampton

• Monday, Aug 8: Manchester United

• Tuesday, Aug 9: Manchester City

• Wednesday, Aug 10: Tottenham

• Thursday, Aug 11: Arsenal

• Friday, Aug 12: Leicester City

• Saturday, Aug 13: Premier League season begins

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