‘Definitely’ – Exclusive: Phillips tips Bilic to overlook senior West Brom player again v Hull
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…
Kevin Phillips believes that after scoring on Wednesday night, Charlie Austin should be named in the West Brom starting line-up against Hull this weekend.
Austin, 30, scored Albion’s first goal since February when he converted a first-half penalty in the 3-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
The former Southampton striker was an unused substitute in the defeat to Brentford last week but Slaven Bilic put his faith in him to start versus the Owls and that decision clearly had its desired effect.
Austin got the ball rolling for the Baggies in what was a very high-pressure situation and Phillips has tipped the forward to build on that by getting the chance to start versus Hull on Sunday.
“It’s always a difficult one for managers because games come thick and fast. I would give Austin another run, definitely,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“He’s had to be patient, he’s been professional, he’s come in and done a job by scoring a goal.
“If I was Charlie, I’d be desperate to start again.
“I’m not going to tell Slaven what team to pick but I certainly would play him again because I know as a striker, they live on confidence. There’s no reason why he won’t start him again.”
Of course, if Austin starts against Hull then that will mean Bilic will overlook Hal Robson-Kanu once more.
Robson-Kanu has been brilliant at times for West Brom this season and we are really big fans of the enigmatic Welsh forward.
But it was clear against Birmingham and Brentford that Robson-Kanu wasn’t getting anywhere near as involved as he should have been and it would make a lot of sense to start Austin over him against Hull.
We need players playing who are in form and based on his goal from the penalty spot at Hillsborough, Austin is the striker for the Baggies.
In other West Brom news, Alan McInally hailed this “brilliant” Albion player on Wednesday night.
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