So who wants to say a few words?

The scene was the KAMO Soccer Store opposite Harajuku Station in Tokyo and four Albion players were perched on a small stage before a crowd of fans.

There was no microphone. Nothing to give to someone to make them the focus of attention.

After a slightly awkward brief silence, James Milner took charge and spoke up first.

Saying the right things about the trip, just enough.

He has a voice which projects and he was loud enough to be heard and engage the room.

So, yes, a small example and not one from the heat of battle.

But, after the departure of Adam Lallana and Pascal Gross in the space of a few weeks, it feels like Milner’s senior role on and off the pitch will be even more important.

On it, he can be the versatile, unselfish facilitator.

Amid the 30 top-flight goals and numerous assists, one of the great things about Gross was when he DIDN’T take centre stage.

When he dropped back to cover team-mates or assumed unaccustomed positions to allow others to shine.

That feels like something Milner can do, both in terms of experience and ability.

Off the park, he comes across as football worldly-wise.

Not just because of the length of time he has had in the game but also for what he has done with those years.

That standing in the game was underlined by the fact that, among media and fans in Tokyo, he seemed to be Albion’s most popular non-Japanese player, just ahead of Danny Welbeck.

But he also has some concept of where Albion have come from, having played against them at Withdean in League One.

In Japan, he was Fabian Huerzeler’s on-field leader, the captain.

Until he took the leadership decision to ask that Kaoru Mitoma wear the armband for the second game.

(And that wasn’t because Mitoma could have a quiet word to the referee in Japanese if needs be).

Milner should have been massive for Albion in their first European season and the fact that did not happen frustrates him.

Speaking to The Argus after another sweat-soaked, two-hour training session in Tokyo, in the oppressive conditions of a gathering thunderstorm, he recognised that fact.

He said: “It was very frustrating after January picking up an injury, it was a frustrating time.

“I have worked very hard to get back. It was a testing time, but I worked as hard as I could.

“I enjoyed last season until getting injured. It’s a good football club which is on an amazing journey, getting into Europe for the first time last year and that’s somewhere that we want to push back to again.

“There’s a lot of potential in the squad and it’s a great bunch of lads to be part of as well.

“Some fantastic characters that made me feel at home very quickly, and it’s a great, great bunch.

“In the first year, it doesn’t matter how long you have played football, it’s always different and you have to take your time to find your feet and know what’s what.

“Hopefully, I can keep being a part of the club moving forward.

“The manager has clear ideas which comes across, but he’s also open to things as well.

“So that’s fantastic. I’ll obviously help wherever I can. But he has been coaching for a number of years himself and obviously done a great job.

“You look at the club’s track record in choosing managers, in choosing players, in how they get selected and the process they go through and the tests they have to pass and the stats.

“If he has gone through the owner’s tests, he’s obviously got a lot about him and you can see that straight away in the first few weeks, the first days, how he commands the room.

“He’s very clear and has direct ideas.

“The players know what he wanted straight away and we work very hard.

“I’ve enjoyed the first few weeks under him for sure.”

We hear tales from ex-professionals about players making up their minds about a new manager very quickly but does that really happen?

Milner said: “You do get first impressions of people and it was obviously a good one for the boys and how he came across.

“The training sessions the boys are enjoying and they’re working hard and we feel like we’re working hard as well.

“But there’s no confusion about what he wants. It’s clear messages.

“Clear ideas and how he works.

“He’s obviously very different to the last manager and it’s great for me as a player to be working under different managers and keep learning off fantastic coaches.

“I’ve been very fortunate in just recent times, obviously with Jurgen (Klopp) and Roberto (De Zerbi) and now this manager, so I’m excited, I’m learning a lot every day and I’m enjoying it.”

Not long before that, Albion had been working on a few things which suggested they will be tactically flexible in the coming campaign.

There were two complete XIs going at each other, playing different formations One team got through too easily and Milner’s voice could be clearly heard, telling those responsible to up their game.

That is part of why he is here.

Know-how will be needed even more now two senior figures have gone.

He ISN’T in charge. Videos posted by the club show how Huerzeler does indeed command a room, talking to players and staff.

We saw that on the training pitch too.

The messages are indeed clear.

Lewis Dunk remains on board as long-standing and respected captain.

But Albion have lost a lot of experience in the last few weeks. That which remains will be important.