Bilic shares injury update on Diangana ahead of West Brom clash against Bristol City
Slaven Bilic has confirmed that West Brom loan star Grady Diangana is edging closer to a return from injury.
Diangana, 21, has been one of the stand-out players for the Baggies this season but he has only featured in two of the club’s last 11 Championship fixtures due to back and hamstring injuries.
The on-loan West Ham winger is not going to be fit enough to play against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday but Bilic has revealed that he is on course to return to action in March.
“Grady is a few weeks away, yes. We’re at that final stage now where we don’t know if we’re going to be two or three,” Bilic said, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail.
“Of course the sooner the better, but it’s not a week, you know? I think it shouldn’t be more than, let’s say, tops three weeks, I don’t think.”
It seemed unthinkable before the end of the January transfer window that Diangana might struggle to get into Bilic’s starting line-up once he does return to fitness.
Of course, things can change in the next three weeks before Diangana is available but Callum Robinson has been in excellent form since being snapped up on loan from Sheffield United last month.
Robinson, 24, scored his first goal for the Baggies in a man of the match performance against Nottingham Forest last week and Diangana may struggle to take his starting spot off him if he continues to impress.
Still, Diangana has five goals and six assists in 21 Championship appearances this season and that cannot be ignored simply because of Robinson’s current performances.
It’s going to be a tough decision for Bilic to make but it is definitely a good thing.
In other West Brom news, Jeff Stelling has predicted the clash against Bristol City.