Exclusive: Phillips urges West Brom to consider Jan swoop for PL striker who can be ‘Unplayable’
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 signing Andy Carroll would be a risky move by West Brom in January but believes it could be a gamble worth taking.
Newcastle United forward Carroll, 31, has been linked with a January move to The Hawthorns after Sam Allardyce took charge of the struggling Premier League side earlier this month.
However, Carroll’s injury issues are well-publicised and the former Liverpool and West Ham striker has failed to score in any of his 33 appearances since returning to St James’ Park last year.
But Phillips is adamant that Carroll is someone who could be an asset for the Baggies if Allardyce is able to reunite with someone he’s managed at both West Ham and Newcastle.
“If you could guarantee he was going to stay fit for the rest of the season, I would certainly consider it because he gives you a different style,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“There might be a lot of people who say ‘oh this is going to be route-one football’ but it’s about winning a football match. And if that means bringing in a 6ft 5 or 6ft 6 centre-forward and you play a different style of play, we know Andy Carroll on his day can be unplayable.
“It’s just whether you can guarantee keeping him fit and for me, it’s a gamble. If you put all your eggs in one basket in getting him in and he gets injured in the first few weeks, you’re back to square one.
“Ultimately, it might be a gamble worth having a little nibble at because they need to do something. It hasn’t quite worked for Karlan Grant. I know you’ve got Charlie Austin and Hal Robson-Kanu but someone like Andy Carroll – who obviously Big Sam knows – could be a good option.
“But I’m not sure that if he stays fit, Steve Bruce would let him go with the situation they’re in as well.”
Carroll has already had to contend with a number of niggling injury issues since returning to Newcastle and the fact he hasn’t even score for Bruce’s side is concerning.
However, as an impact player who can give you a different option up front or help out in defence to see out a good result, Carroll could be a good signing.
As Phillips mentioned, Grant has struggled this season in the Premier League.
Grant has plenty of pace so a front-two of him and Carroll could also be something Allardyce considers.
However, West Brom rolled the dice in January 2018 and ended up getting relegated after they signed injury-prone Daniel Sturridge on loan from Liverpool.
Albion put a lot of faith in Sturridge to score the goals to keep them in the Premier League but he barely played due to injury.
We’d worry the same would happen with Carroll.
In other West Brom news, Phillips claims Allardyce has been handed a big boost over this Albion player.
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