Danek extends Baggies stay

Albion have taken up their original option to extend the loan deal of giant Czech stopper Michal Danek for a further six months. The 24-year-old will now stay at The Hawthorns until January 1^st when Albion will have option of buying the Viktoria Plzen keeper.

Danek joined the Baggies back in January to provide competition for Albion's No.1 Dean Kiely, and although he is yet to make his first start, has done enough on the training field and in reserve fixtures to earn himself a new deal after settling into English life.

"Michal hasn't really had an opportunity to prove himself so we're taking up our option and we'll see if a chance arises for him before the next window.

"It works both ways.

"If Michal didn't see this as his best option, that he hasn't played or had an opportunity, he could have gone back to his club.

"But he's more than happy to stay with us and see where we go over the next six months.

"He needs to play football. He's played half a dozen reserve team games and done okay in them.

"But I think there's a natural adjustment period for new players - particularly non-English speaking goalkeepers - to adapt to the football club they're at.

"I'm trying to give Michal the best opportunity to be a player at our club by giving him the time to adapt to the language and culture of the team and dressing room.

"I think he's getting there and I didn't think letting him go now was the right thing to do just as he's starting to adapt.

"It takes two to three months to actually get the basics of it.

"He's getting to that point where's he's just starting to get a grasp of everything.

"We're now giving him an opportunity to see if he can produce - if given the chance - next season."