Danny Wright

Tue 14 July 2020 17:44, UK

Don Goodman and Mick McCarthy have heaped praise on West Brom defender Ahmed Hegazi for the goal line clearance he made in the first half against Fulham.

Hegazi, 29, returned to Albion’s starting line-up to replace Kyle Bartley after he missing the last two matches.

Fulham put the Baggies under plenty of pressure in the opening 25 minutes and their best opportunity came when Anthony Knockaert’s deep cross was put back across the goal by Ivan Cavaleiro.

Scott Parker’s side would have gone ahead with an attacker waiting in the box to pounce on Cavaleiro’s hopeful ball but Hegazi was on his toes to clear the danger at the last opportunity.

“Cavaleiro does brilliantly to keep it in and helps it into the perfect area but that is brilliant from Ahmed Hegazi,” Goodman said on Sky Sports Main Event on Tuesday [05:21pm].

“He reads the situation and bails his team out.”

Ex-Wolves boss McCarthy added: “That’s great defending from Hegazi. He’s kept the clean sheet there.”

West Brom’s defence has been their weak point this season.

Semi Ajayi has been Slaven Bilic’s undisputed first-choice centre-back but there has been a lot of debate about who should partner him. Hegazi or Bartley?

Bartley was not at his best against Blackburn on Saturday and that must have played a role in Bilic dropping the ex-Swansea man in favour of the Egypt international against Fulham.

Another factor could have been that Hegazi is by far the best defender that the Baggies have in the air and bringing him in could have been done to try and nullify Aleksandar Mitrovic’s threat in the air.

It was great to see Hegazi looking so sharp in that first half at The Hawthorns.

We hope that he can continue that for the rest of the season.

In other West Brom news, Albion have been tipped to sign this Man United player on a £37,500-a-week loan deal.

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