Exclusive: Bilic decision doesn’t bode well for West Brom senior duo going into PL – ex-Baggie
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 has admitted that Slaven Bilic’s decision to start Callum Robinson up front against QPR does not bode well for West Brom strikers Charlie Austin and Hal Robson-Kanu.
Robinson, 25, spearheaded Albion’s attack as they drew 2-2 with QPR on Wednesday night as they sealed promotion back to the Premier League.
The on-loan Sheffield United winger, who hadn’t played a single game as a striker for Bilic, managed to get himself on the scoresheet in the draw, which is something Robson-Kanu hasn’t done since February and Austin hasn’t done in his last five outings.
West Brom are now planning for life in the Premier League and Bilic’s refusal to start one of his two main strikers for the biggest match of the season suggests that change is afoot at The Hawthorns, according to ex-Baggies forward Phillips.
“It doesn’t bode well for them,” he told West Brom News. “When I saw that decision, was I surprised? Yes, a little bit.
“The boys have hit a bit of a sticky patch as of late and Slaven had to try something.
“If you can’t rely on your two main strikers in a crucial match, come next season, every match is crucial because you need points early.
“I’d guarantee that is there priority going into the new season when that window opens and I’m sure they’ve been looking at options already. I guarantee they’ve been looking over the last two or three months.”
Robinson’s loan at West Brom has now ended and it remains to be seen whether the Black Country club tries to seek a second temporary deal for the 25-year-old or re-sign him permanently.
Either way, it is very unlikely that Bilic will want to sign him as a new striker for the Premier League with the Baggies in need of a major upgrade to their part of their squad.
Austin was Albion’s top scorer this season with 11 goals in all competitions while Robson-Kanu was second with 10.
Neither have done enough to suggest they can cut it in the top-flight next term and neither of them even managed to prove to Bilic they can be trusted to start a promotion decider against a mid-table team with nothing to play for.
In other West Brom news, in another exclusive story by this site, the Baggies have opened talks over a new contract for this attacker.
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