View: West Brom predicted XI v West Ham – Bilic to make nine changes in 4-4-2
Slaven Bilic is predicted to make wholesale changes to the West Brom starting line-up ahead of the FA Cup clash with West Ham on Saturday.
Bilic is set to return to the London Stadium for the first time since being sacked by the Hammers as the Baggies aim to book their spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
However the Albion boss is unlikely to name a full-strength side at West Ham due to his priority being winning promotion from the Championship and having a match away against Cardiff to contend with on Tuesday night.
Therefore, we can expect Bilic to name the same starting line-up that beat Charlton 1-0 in the last round of the competition.
Jonathan Bond is expected to replace Sam Johnstone in goals behind a back-four of Dara O’Shea, Jack Fitzwater, Ahmed Hegazi and Conor Townsend.
Hegazi and Townsend could be the only two players to keep their starting spots after they both lined up in the 1-0 defeat to Stoke on Monday night.
However Bilic could always replace them with Nathan Ferguson, if he is fit, and Semi Ajayi at Cardiff on Tuesday.
Albion’s midfield could feature Gareth Barry and Rekeem Harper in the central roles with Kyle Edwards on the right-wing and club captain Chris Brunt on the left.
Up front, Bilic could go with both Charlie Austin and Kenneth Zohore, who scored the winner at The Valley in the last round of the FA Cup.
In other West Brom news, Albion are set to table a bid for this £9million player.