West Bromwich Albion will look to bring in a winger before the January deadline to replace the injured Matt Phillips, according to Lewis Cox.
The Lowdown: Phillips’ injury
It was reported by the BBC that Baggies winger Phillips will likely miss the rest of the season with him requiring surgery on a quad muscle injury.
The 31-year-old sustained the problem in the FA Cup replay against Chesterfield and brings Carlos Corberan a headache with the transfer deadline looming.
Phillips has played 28 times for West Brom this season, including 11 times under the Spaniard since he took over the Championship side, leaving wide options limited in his absence.
The Latest: Cox’s update
Speaking on the Express & Star YouTube channel following the 3-0 FA Cup defeat against Bristol City, West Brom correspondent Cox said that the Baggies are willing to enter the market for a winger after revealing Corberan’s reaction following the defeat, he said:
(4:00) “He reaffirmed regards to Phillips being out for maybe the whole season, he thought prior to that he had two players in every position, which I think most managers want don’t they and he sort of suggested that he doesn’t have that now without him which could be seen as quite damming on [Grady] Diangana and [Karlan] Grant who are the natural step ups, Grant today and Diangana maybe previously we’ve not seen enough.”
“Now it’s quite clear they are looking out wide and it’ll be fascinating to see if they can get two done, a wide attacker as well, to make up for the Phillips blow.”
The Verdict: Replacement incoming?
Following the Baggies’ lacklustre defeat which saw Tom Rogic and Jed Wallace both start on the wings before being replaced, it leaves it increasingly likely Corberan will push for a new signing.
Cox’s suggested alternative already in the squad of Grant and Diangana have both flattered to deceive with Diangana starting just four of the 11 Championship games under Corberan, shows he’s already quite unfancied by the Spaniard.
Whilst Grant has seen even less action with him featuring in just 37 minutes in the previous ten league games.
The Baggies are reportedly keen on signing centre-midfielder Lewis O’Brien on loan until the end of the season (via Express & Star), meaning he and a winger could be the two pieces of business that Cox alluded to.
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