‘It’s a big ask’ – Exclusive: Phillips unsure that West Brom ace should return to Bilic XI
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Grady Diangana has returned to training this week – but Kevin Phillips claims that the winger should not expect an instant return to the West Brom starting line-up.
Albion uploaded a clip of the 21-year-old to their official Twitter account on Monday, showing him training with the rest of the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Diangana has not played for the Baggies since going off early in the defeat to Stoke on January 20 but there are now clear signs that he’s ready to return to the side.
However ex-West Brom forward Phillips is adamant that Callum Robinson should not be dropped to make way for Diangana, simply because the Baggies have been in a good run of form with the on-loaned Sheffield United winger in the side.
When asked if Diangana should come in to replace Robinson, Phillips told West Brom News: “No, I don’t.
“I think Slaven will probably stick now with nine games left unless he’s forced to make changes due to injury or whatever. Having been out that long, it’s a big ask for the kid to be thrown straight back in.
“At the minute, everything’s ok but he might prove me wrong and put him back in – but I don’t see it because the player himself is probably thinking ‘the team are doing well without me at the moment. I’ll get myself 100 per cent fit before I challenge for a spot’.
“I don’t see it but they might need the whole squad from now until the end of the season because there might be injuries and this and that.
“But it’s good that he’s coming back to fitness at the right time for the run-in.”
Diangana is bound to be fully fit by the time the Championship is back underway.
It was confirmed on Friday that amid the global coronavirus pandemic, the EFL has been suspended until the start of April.
That gives Diangana more time to recover and he should be good to start by then.
However a lot can change in the coming weeks and if this outbreak gets as bad as it has done in other parts of the world, maybe Diangana will have to wait months before playing again.
In other West Brom news, Jamie Carragher has discussed the implications of the EFL suspension amid Albion’s bid for promotion.