Kevin Phillips delighted with West Brom contract news – Exclusive
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 is delighted to see that left-back Conor Townsend has put pen to paper on a new contract at West Brom.
Townsend’s previous deal at The Hawthorns was due to expire at the end of the season. However, on Friday, the Albion confirmed that the 27-year-old has extended his stay until 2024.
West Brom have a number of players who are out of contract in the summer and before news of Townsend’s new deal broke, both left-backs – he and Kieran Gibbs – were among those potential departures.
Ex-Baggies forward Phillips is happy with Townsend’s new agreement, claiming that the ex-Scunthorpe ace is more than good enough to play as first-choice left-back in the Championship next season.
“I like Conor Townsend and I think he’ll do well in the Championship,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“He’s a player that’s on the books and he could be the first-choice left-back next year in the Championship.
“He’s a good player who’ll get better so for me, if he stays fit then just bring in someone who’s a bit of an understudy – maybe a younger player – or promote someone from within if they’ve got somebody there.
“I’d be looking to use him next season because that’s a position you’ve got sorted already. He knows the league, he’s played in it and he’s comfortable in it.”
Townsend has barged his way above Gibbs in West Brom’s left-back pecking order in the last year.
Nathan Ferguson’s fitness issues and exit to Crystal Palace, as well as Gibbs’ injury problems, opened up a slot for Townsend under Slaven Bilic and he grasped the opportunity with both hands.
In the Premier League, he hasn’t been amazing but he’s done better than Gibbs has and has arguably been one of the better outfield players in blue and white stripes with Sam Allardyce in charge.
Townsend was never expected to be a starting left-back for the Albion in the Premier League when he joined from Scunthorpe in 2018 but he’s proven a lot of people wrong and deserves his new contract.
As relegation back to the Championship seems increasingly likely, getting him tied down for the future is a good decision.
In other West Brom news, Gary Neville was disappointed by this player’s display against Manchester United on Sunday.
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