West Brom winger Rayhaan Tulloch thinking big with Bantams

The West Brom winger has made an early impression with two breezy cameos from the bench since signing on deadline day.

Tulloch may have dropped down two divisions but he is still aiming high with his career - and is prepared to do it the hard way.

Four years ago, he appeared for England under-18s against Slovakia and Spain.

Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey and Man City’s Tommy Doyle, now on loan with Wolves, were in the same team as well as current Championship players Bali Mumba, Vontae Campbell and Morgan Whittaker.

And Tulloch, whose West Brom contract is up in the summer, has the belief that a successful time at Valley Parade can propel him forward.

“There’s always time, isn’t there,” said the 22-year-old, who has made seven senior appearances for the Baggies. “Just look at Jamie Vardy and what he’s done.

“Anything can change in football. You can have one good season and end up in the Championship, so who knows.

“It’s about learning. When you go on loan, it’s completely different to your parent club.

“You’re more comfortable because you’ve been there for years and you know everybody. Then you get thrown into a completely different environment and it’s a bit of a shock to the system.

“But I think it’s character building. You grow as a player because you come out your comfort zone.

“Some young players go straight into the first team and kick on from there.

“Others have to go on loan like me and I think it’s helped me massively.”

Tulloch, who has been on the Baggies’ book since the age of nine, is no newcomer to short-term spells elsewhere.

A serious hamstring injury cut short his first loan with former West Brom boss Darren Moore at Doncaster. He then had half a season with Rochdale.

But it was spending six months with Dundalk in the League of Ireland earlier this year that really got him going again.

Tulloch scored five goals in 19 games and felt he came home as a more rounded player.

Rayhaan Tulloch says his Irish loan spell shaped him as a player (Image: dundalkfc.com)

He added: “It came out of the blue. I just saw it as an opportunity to play football.

“When you’re a young player that’s all you can do and you’ll get recognised eventually.

“It was a good experience and I’m glad I went. It shaped me into becoming a different kind of player.

“I learned stuff from that move that I didn’t have before it.

“I was definitely a different person when I came back. I developed a lot on and off the field.”

Tulloch is determined to build on that with the Bantams as he pushes for a first start under Mark Hughes.

“Everyone who plays football wants to win things, win leagues and cups.

“This club has got that in their mind to do. That’s why I like it here.

“Playing in front of big crowds is exciting and puts a little bit more on it because you can hear them shouting.”