West Bromwich Albion captain George Campbell is fully focused on leading his side in Sunday's Black Country derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers, putting his second United States national team call-up to the back of his mind. The 25-year-old defender will experience the fierce local rivalry for the first time when the Baggies, sitting fourth in the Championship, travel to Molineux.
Campbell earned his second international selection for the US, who face Peru in Orlando on September 26 before matches against Chile, Mexico and Canada. He made his debut for Mauricio Pochettino's side in January 2025 but missed out on the World Cup squad, a setback he now uses as motivation. "I tried a lot to try and get into that squad leading up to that World Cup, obviously I couldn't manage it but it's only motivation," Campbell said.
His immediate priority, however, is securing a positive result for his club. West Brom head into the derby with 14 points from seven games, their recent form reading two wins, two draws and a loss from their last five outings. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Queens Park Rangers in their last match, a result that kept them in the play-off places.
Derby day focus
Campbell emphasised the unique significance of the fixture, drawing a contrast with his previous experiences in Major League Soccer with CF Montreal. "In terms of the rivalry of it, respectfully to Montreal, it won't come close to this one," he stated. "It means a lot to the fans." He described the derby as a special game that every player wants to be involved in, acknowledging the intense atmosphere it generates.
The skipper admitted his sole concern is helping West Brom get a win this weekend, and he will only switch his attention to international duty once he joins the US camp. His leadership will be key for a Baggies defence that has conceded seven goals this season. Fans can check the latest standings to see how the table shapes up around the derby clash.
Campbell's commitment provides a boost as West Brom aim to improve on a mixed recent record against their local rivals. The 12:00 BST kick-off on Sunday represents a major early-season test for Carlos Corberán's side as they look to solidify their top-six position. The club's top scorer this season is J. Morgan with three goals, and the team will be hoping he can make an impact in the derby atmosphere.
