Exclusive: West Brom outcast tipped to stay at The Hawthorns past January after key development
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 tipped Kieran Gibbs to see out the season at West Brom despite him dropping below Conor Townsend in Slaven Bilic’s left-back pecking order.
Since his sending off at Everton on September 19, 31-year-old Gibbs has made just a single appearance for the Baggies with Townsend, 27, starting every match up until his knee injury blow last week.
After serving his three-match ban for violent conduct, Gibbs has been an unused substitute twice but has also missed the two matchday squads against Manchester United and Sheffield United after testing positive for COVID-19.
However, Townsend has been in impressive form and even if the ex-Arsenal man was available for the clashes with Man United and the Blades, it’s unlikely he would have started over the current first-choice left-back.
Gibbs’ contract expires at the end of the season and with him struggling to earn game-time at the Baggies, Phillips was asked whether he could see the 10-times England international trying to leave when the January transfer window opens.
However, Phillips claims that after Townsend’s injury blow, Gibbs is likely to stay put at The Hawthorns past the end of the January transfer window.
“I think he’ll end up being there until the end of the season,” Phillips told West Brom News in an exclusive interview.
“I don’t see too many comings and goings in January. There was a lot of hoo-ha in the summer about funds being made available and they left it until the last minute to bring a striker in so I don’t see there being too much activity at West Brom in January.
“I think the squad is almost there so there might be one or two additions.
“If the player wants to leave that’s a different story but I think Bilic will be happy with what he’s got there.
“Gibbs is not causing any fuss behind the scenes but you know if Townsend goes down you’ve got an experienced left-back to step straight in.”
It was a bit of a surprise that West Brom didn’t sign a new left-back in the last transfer window with Gibbs struggling with injuries for most of the 2019/20 Championship campaign.
There were also reservations about whether Townsend was good enough to step up to the Premier League but so far, the ex-Scunthorpe left-back has been very impressive.
The experienced defender missed out completely once again for the Crystal Palace clash, with Matt Phillips somewhat surprisingly selected ahead of him.
If Gibbs goes in January then Albion will have to replace him and with funds so tight at The Hawthorns, we cannot see that happening unless Bilic and Luke Dowling make use of the loan market.
However, as proven in recent years with players like Daniel Sturridge, Jefferson Montero, Jacob Murphy and Stefan Johansen, signing players on loan in the middle of the season is quite risky.
In other West Brom news, Adrian Durham has recalled the moment this ex-Albion ace left him “mesmerised” at The Hawthorns.
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