Keith Andrews ‘blown away’ by West Brom player he tips for Championship player of the season
Keith Andrews believes that West Brom attacker Matheus Pereira should win the Championship player of the season award.
Pereira, 23, has lit up the second-tier since joining the Baggies on loan from Sporting CP in the summer, scoring six goals and supplying 16 assists in 33 league appearances [transfermarkt].
Luckily for West Brom fans, the club does have the option to sign Pereira permanently before the end of his loan spell for just £8.25million, according to the Express & Star.
Unsurprisingly, ex-Albion midfielder Andrews cannot name a better player in the Championship than the Brazilian this season.
“I’m going to go for Pereira because I have been blown away by his skill, his ability on the ball, the way he takes the game to the opposition and the vision he has,” Andrews told Sky Sports.
“He is such an all-round attacking player and isn’t just one type of No 10. I think he is at his best in the centre, but we have seen him play from the right and the left, too.
“I have eulogised about him from August when I saw little glimpses in his game, and I remember thinking he was playing on a different level to most on the pitch.
“He is Brazilian so you would expect the flair, tricks and flicks, but his loan spell has really helped him deal with the physical side of the game. He has slotted into Championship life and got on with things.”
There have been a lot of strong performers in the Championship this season.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ollie Watkins and Kalvin Phillips are all also contenders for the player of the season award but Pereira’s influence at The Hawthorns cannot be raved about enough.
The Brazilian wizard has everything you want in an attacking player. He’s versatile, he can score goals, he supplied assists and he brings a flair to the Baggies attack that was missing when Harvey Barnes left last January.
We cannot wait to see him play for Albion when his move to the club is made permanent.
In other West Brom news, Semi Ajayi’s masterclass against Preston has been analysed.