Anelka partners Long in West Brom front line

Summer signing Nicolas Anelka was included in West Brom’s starting line-up for their Barclays Premier League opening-day clash with Southampton at the Hawthorns.

Fellow striker and new arrival Matej Vydra was among the Baggies’ substitutes, but there was no place in the squad for another summer recruit, defender Diego Lugano.

The new signings in Southampton’s first XI were centre-back Dejan Lovren and midfielder Victor Wanyama, while there was also a first senior start for 18-year-old defender Calum Chambers.

Two more 18-year-olds, fit-again full-back Luke Shaw and midfielder James Ward-Prowse, were also in the Saints side, while England’s latest goalscoring hero Rickie Lambert started up front.

West Brom: Foster, Billy Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Morrison, Mulumbu, Yacob, Dorrans, Anelka, Long.

Subs: Popov, Rosenberg, Brunt, Myhill, Vydra, Dawson, Berahino.

Southampton: Boruc, Chambers, Lovren, Fonte, Shaw, Ward-Prowse, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Lambert, Rodriguez.

Subs: Kelvin Davis, Clyne, Steven Davis, Ramirez, Cork, Mayuka, Hooiveld.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)