Exclusive: 23y/o tipped to earn West Brom PL debut in coming weeks by 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 claims Cedric Kipre could be in line for a Premier League debut with West Brom after Ahmed Hegazi was shipped out to Al-Ittihad on Sunday.
Kipre, 23, has played twice for the Baggies since his arrival from Wigan in the summer transfer window but both of those appearances have come in the Carabao Cup.
The French defender made Slaven Bilic’s bench for Premier League clashes against Everton and Chelsea but was an unused substitute on both occasions and has not been included in Bilic’s matchday plans since.
However, Phillips believes that Hegazi’s move to Saudi Arabia will have bumped Kipre up the pecking order and that a top-flight debut could be on the horizon for the ex-Motherwell defender.
“I would think he’s in line for a league debut,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“That’s probably one of the reasons why Hegazi moved so they could give this lad the opportunity to come in.
“It’s time for Kipre to step up, if and when he gets his opportunity, and I’m sure he will.
“As I always say, one door closes and another one opens for someone else and this is his opportunity.
“It’s a big step for him coming from Wigan but West Brom like what they see and they will believe he can do a job at that level.
“Hopefully we’ll see him in action in the next few weeks.”
Kipre still has plenty of competition for game-time at West Brom despite Hegazi’s move to Al-Ittihad.
Branislav Ivanovic, Kyle Bartley, Semi Ajayi and Dara O’Shea could all be seen as being above the Frenchman in Bilic’s centre-back pecking order but based on West Brom’s defensive performances so far this season, the Albion boss might be open to mixing things up to get the best out of his side.
At the moment, Ivanovic and Ajayi seem to be Bilic’s preferred centre-back pairing but all it takes is an injury, suspension or drop in form for someone like Kipre to get involved and earn a Premier League debut.
We’re a bit disappointed we haven’t seen more of the Baggies’ new centre-back this season but he’s only a matter of weeks into his stint in the West Midlands.
In other West Brom news, fans have been left gutted by this new John Percy transfer update.
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