Kevin Phillips tips O’Shea to replace Ajayi in West Brom starting XI v Brighton
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 Dara O’Shea is likely to replace the suspended Semi Ajayi in Sam Allardyce’s West Brom starting line-up this weekend.
The Albion welcome Brighton to The Hawthorns on Saturday as they aim to build on two successive draws and go three matches unbeaten for the first time in the Premier League this season.
Ajayi, 27, is suspended though after receiving a straight red card in the 0-0 draw with Burnley last week when his deliberate handball denied the Clarets a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Allardyce has a few options to choose from in terms of replacements for Ajayi but Phillips believes Big Sam will opt to start 21-year-old academy product O’Shea.
“I would go with O’Shea. He’s played regularly, athletic and is up to speed whereas [Branislav] Ivanovic has been sat on the sidelines for a fair bit and could be a little bit rusty, especially with the stage of his career he’s at,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“I’d be looking at O’Shea because he’s played there before. I would say him but you can’t second-guess Big Sam, can you? He could well put Ivanovic in for his experience or maybe go with three at the back and maybe put him in the middle of it.
“It’s a big, big game for them against Brighton. They need to win the match, it’s as simple as that.
“Does he go positive or does he set his stall out to not get beaten and maybe nick a goal? I’d like to think he goes positive to try and win the match.”
O’Shea has made 21 appearances in all competitions for West Brom this season, starting 16 times in the Premier League so the young Ireland international certainly won’t be coming in from the cold should he start.
As for 37-year-old Ivanovic, he’s played 13 times in all competitions and hasn’t played in the league for the Baggies since January 2 when they lost 4-0 to Arsenal.
In fact, Ivanovic has not even been in any of Allardyce’s last three matchday squads in the league, which suggests he’s completely fallen out of the picture in the Black Country.
O’Shea is very likely to start and Ivanovic will perhaps be back on the bench but as soon as Ajayi serves his one-match ban, it’s likely the Nigeria international will step back in and play alongside Kyle Bartley versus Everton next Thursday.
In other West Brom news, Kamil Grosicki’s confirmed a major update on his future at the Albion.
Be sure to follow West Brom News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Baggies and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Phillips.