Bilic shares injury update on Diangana and Bartley ahead of West Brom clash v Middlesbrough

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27 Dec 2019, 5:34 am

West Brom manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed that Grady Diangana and Kyle Bartley are closing in on a return to full fitness.

Albion have certainly missed Diangana's presence in their last two matches as both have ended in frustrating 1-1 draws with Brentford and Barnsley.

The on-loan West Ham winger went off in the first half with a back injury in the 3-2 win against Birmingham City on December 14 but could star against Middlesbrough at The Hawthorns on Sunday.

"They are I think very close to coming back," said Bilic, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail when asked about Bartley and Diangana's fitness.

"Grady for Middlesbrough? I don’t think so, I don’t think so but maybe."

It would be a massive boost for West Brom to have Diangana available for the clash with Middlesbrough.

Since joining West Brom on loan from West Ham on August 8, Diangana has missed four games for the Baggies and all of those games have resulted in a 1-1 draw.

He has certainly been missed against Brentford and Barnsley so let's hope that he is available to play against Boro at the weekend.

As for Bartley, the Baggies also need him back in the side as soon as possible because Barnsley created way too many changes against Bilic's defence on Boxing Day.

At the start of the season it would have been crazy to suggest Bartley was above Ahmed Hegazi in the pecking order but yet here we are.

In other West Brom news, Darren Bent has said what has been "scary good" about the Baggies this season.

West Bromwich Albion

Slaven Bilic