Exclusive: Big Sam tipped to hand West Brom player first PL start of 20/21 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…
Charlie Austin could earn his first Premier League start of the season for West Brom on Sunday when they play Aston Villa at The Hawthorns, according to Kevin Phillips.
Sam Allardyce is bound to do a bit of tinkering with the team ahead of his first match in charge of Albion after replacing Slaven Bilic as manager on Wednesday.
And one of the main changes that Phillips believes Allardyce will make will be up front by naming Austin, 31, to start ahead of misfiring Karlan Grant.
“He might opt to bring Charlie Austin back in, someone who has that Premier League pedigree,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“He’s got that energy and work-rate.
“I’m not saying Karlan Grant hasn’t but it just hasn’t quite worked out for him yet.”
Grant, 23, has started all nine Premier League matches he’s been available for since joining West Brom from Huddersfield in October but has just one goal to his name.
According to stats on the Premier League website, he’s missed two big chances for Albion this season while on Tuesday night in the 1-1 draw at Manchester City, the ex-Charlton forward squandered a massive chance to score at the Etihad.
Austin came off the bench to replace Grant with 20 minutes left and did a brilliant job of helping see the game out.
According to stats by Wyscout, Austin made four interceptions, won two recoveries, completed all four of his passes and completed out of his two dribbles.
While it wasn’t a performance that suggested he was going to score, Austin gave Albion an outlet to relieve themselves of Man City’s pressure as they ground out the 1-1 draw.
Allardyce will have noticed that and could call on Austin to start over Grant, who has been off the boil for several weeks now.
Austin’s not shown much evidence of being able to grab the goals for West Brom but maybe if he got a few starts for a new manager, that could change.
In other West Brom news, Jonathan Greening has blasted the club for sacking Bilic and has made a claim about Tony Pulis.
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