View: Exciting West Brom U23s talent could be handed chance v Blackpool after major blow
West Brom go into their FA Cup third-round tie with Blackpool on Saturday desperate for a win of any kind at Bloomfield Road.
Sam Allardyce could think against making wholesale changes against the League One side, but there will be some of his Premier League squad who don’t deserve to start.
After conceding nine goals in their past two games against Leeds and Arsenal, it would be nice to see some younger players involved.
The Baggies have been hit with the injury blow that Karlan Grant will be out for up to five weeks after breaking a bone in his foot.
Grant confirmed the blow before missing the Arsenal clash, and his wishes that it was minor didn’t appear to be granted.
Allardyce now faces a choice in the final third.
Cheikh Diaby has been in top form this season for the under-23s and made the bench for the 4-0 defeat against Arsenal this week.
The French talent will be raring to go and could be handed the chance to make his first-team debut against the Tangerines.
Diaby has been in great form.
The 20-year-old has scored five goals in his eight appearances in the Premier League 2 and continues to catch the eye for Deon Burton’s side.
Some certainties to start are the likes of Jake Livermore, who has been suspended recently, and possibly Matheus Pereira, who has only started one game since his own suspension last month.
Diaby will be one of the young options wanting to start, but Charlie Austin may be ahead of him in the final third after he came off the bench against Arsenal.
Allardyce clearly doesn’t trust his senior forwards though based on his transfer wishes, and it is now time to hand the baton to Diaby – he will take his chance against Blackpool.
In other West Brom news, Filip Krovinovic could leave the Baggies in January window
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