West Brom agree date to play Midlands club in friendly fixture – report
West Brom have agreed a date to play Stoke City in a friendly match ahead of the season restarting on June 20, according to the Express & Star.
Championship clubs are allowed to play friendly matches in preparation for the season resuming but they can only play against clubs that are less than 90 minutes away and players must drive to matches by themselves in their own car.
Albion have reportedly agreed to play against a fellow Midlands side in Stoke City but it seems that there could be a hitch in the planning.
The Express & Star has reported that West Brom are unlikely to be able to resume contact training until next week, which shrinks the size of the window in which Albion can play friendly matches before June 20.
It is understood that the Baggies and Stoke might have to agreed on a new date to play one another or cancel the arrangement altogether.
It will definitely benefit West Brom to play a friendly match before the season resumes as it will help players get back to peak match fitness and could help Slaven Bilic decide who will start once the Championship resumes.
Albion are likely to play Birmingham behind closed doors at The Hawthorns when the season gets back underway and although Bilic had set on a pretty standard starting line-up before lockdown, fitness and form will have no doubt changed in the last three months.
In other West Brom news, Bilic has a major dilemma on the horizon for once the season resumes.
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