---
title: "West Bromwich Albion: Big boost with return of Ahmed Hegazi"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-bromwich-albion-big-boost-with-return-of-ahmed-hegazi/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Uways Nisar"
section: "uncategorised"
published: "2019-09-09T15:10:50Z"
modified: "2019-09-09T15:10:50Z"
---

# West Bromwich Albion: Big boost with return of Ahmed Hegazi

**West Bromwich Albion could be handed a big boost in their fight for promotion after Slaven Bilic announced that Ahmed Hegazi is close to full fitness.**

The Egyptian defender has been out since having surgery on an ankle injury in July for a problem suffered towards the back end of the 2018/2019 season.

Despite the injury, Hegazi featured for his home nation in the African Cup of Nations.

“He’s very close to fitness. He’s like maybe a couple of weeks away, maybe by the Fulham game he will have joined the training,” Bilic told the club website [(via West Brom’s official website).](https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2019/september2/major-boosts-on-the-horizon-for-bili/)

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

The Egypt international’s injury has meant that Bilic started the new season with just two fit senior centre-halves, Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley [(via Transfermarkt)](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-bromwich-albion/kader/verein/984). The prospective return of Hegazi will be a much-needed boost for the Croatian manager, given the fact the Baggies have conceded first in each of their last four Championship games [(via WhoScored)](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/175/Show/England-West-Bromwich-Albion).

The 28-year-old had a big impact on the Midland side’s defence last season, forming part of the team that reached the play-offs. Indeed, Hegazi made a mammoth [6.1 clearances and 1.3 blocks per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/175/Archive/England-West-Bromwich-Albion) in defence, the most of any player last season.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

A return to the West Brom team is a massive boost for the Baggies. He will only enhance the performance of a team that has remained unbeaten in the first seven games of the Championship season.

However, [conceding in each of your games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-bromwich-albion/spielplan/verein/984) so far this season shows a considerable weakness in your defence. With that in mind, Hegazi represents a big option for Bilic for the Championship games to come.

***How big a boost is this? Join the discussion by commenting below…***