West Brom hit back over pre-season accusations

West Brom have dismissed accusations that the club's pre-season camp in Austria is too punishing.

Former Wales assistant manager Raymond Verheijen, who has worked across Europe as a fitness coach, was among those to criticise the Premier League club after it was reported West Brom boss Tony Pulis had ordered his players to run a marathon every three days in pre-season training.

Verheijen wrote on his personal Twitter account: "Typical pre-season in JurassUK Park: "West Brom running a marathon EVERY THREE DAYS as Tony Pulis aims super-fitness."

But Albion - who lost 3-1 to Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday and are currently winding down their Austrian stay before setting off for a three-game tour of the United States - rubbished claims their training programme is excessive and maintained that Pulis' preparation is "second to none".

"Since arriving Tony has worked closely with myself and my staff to ensure that the right policies have been put in place in all aspects of physical and mental preparation for games," West Brom's director of performance Dr Mark Gillett told the official club website.

"His attention to detail in ensuring the players are physically and mentally ready for games is second to none and his injury record throughout his career speaks for itself.

"Of course the players are pushed hard during pre-season but frankly some of the media reports describing our approach as prehistoric are ridiculous and uneducated.

"In particular the comments made by Raymond Verheijen typify the lack of insight and understanding shown by so-called experts who do not work in the Premier League."