‘Blimey’ – Exclusive: Pundit worries about one Leicester player ahead of clash v West Brom
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 expects Semi Ajayi to have his hands full when the West Brom centre-back comes up against Leicester’s Jamie Vardy on Sunday.
Albion welcome the Foxes to The Hawthorns for their first match back in the Premier League after spending two years in the Championship.
It’s a tough match for the Baggies to begin with having lost all of their last four meetings with the East Midlands club while playing in the Black Country.
Vardy, 33, has scored in each of those wins for Leicester and Phillips believes that 26-year-old Ajayi, and whoever partners him in defence, will have their work cut out.
“Blimey. It’s a test for every defence in this Premier League when Jamie Vardy’s playing against you,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“You won’t get any peace. Any slight mistake or any dwelling on the ball, Jamie will shut you down and he will punish you.
“They’re going to have to be right on their toes in that defensive area.
“Jamie will want to hit the ground running. Knowing him the way I know him, he’ll get off the mark pretty quick.
“Whoever plays alongside Ajayi, whether it’s [Kyle] Bartley or [Ahmed] Hegazi. It’s going to be a tough, tough task for them but it’s great for these players to be testing themselves against the best and Jamie’s right up there.
“It’s going to be a big ask for them.”
We will have to wait and see who Slaven Bilic names to start alongside Ajayi in the heart of his defence on Sunday afternoon with him having a few options available.
As well as Bartley and Hegazi, new signing Cedric Kipre could also be picked by the Baggies boss but we are predicting that it will be one of the former two.
Ajayi was the stand-out defender for West Brom last season in the Championship.
But playing against strikers as good as Vardy, week in, week out, is bound to be a bigger challenge for the former Rotherham ace.
In other West Brom news, Richard Keys has tipped Bilic to leave The Hawthorns before Christmas.
Be sure to follow West Brom News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Baggies and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Phillips.