Exclusive: Phillips backs Grosicki to fight for spot in West Brom squad
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…
Kamil Grosicki could be dropped to the West Brom Under-23s squad in order for him to stay fit, according to Kevin Phillips.
Grosicki, 32, has been frozen out of the West Brom first-team amid speculation linking him with a move to Poland in recent weeks.
However, after the Polish transfer window closed last Wednesday, Grosicki took to his personal Twitter account to say he’s going to stay at The Hawthorns for the rest of the season and challenge for a spot in Sam Allardyce’s squad, as well as a spot in the Poland squad for this summers European Championships.
Speaking to West Brom News last week, Polish journalist Tomasz Włodarczyk revealed that Grosicki could terminate his £40,000-a-week contract in order to find himself a new club where he gets game-time and increases his chances of playing at the Euros.
However, ex-Albion striker Phillips believes that would be a huge leap of faith from Grosicki, who he backs to keep himself fit by playing in the Under-23s and waiting for a chance in Big Sam’s first-team squad.
“It’s a tough one, it takes a brave player to terminate their contract,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“He’ll be on a decent contract at West Brom. For him to terminate it, it would be brave because you might not get what you’re on now anywhere else.
“They know what qualities he’s got, I’m sure he will be playing Under-23 games to keep him fairly match-fit. It looks like Sam’s not considering him now though but there are only two and a bit months left of the season.
“I can understand the reasons if he did leave and if he didn’t. It’s entirely up to the lad but I think he’d stand a good chance of getting in there anyway. One thing’s for sure, he’ll be fresh.”
Grosicki has failed to make any of Allardyce’s last seven squads in the Premier League after a spell in January saw him play well in three appearances versus Blackpool, Wolves and West Ham.
As his contract expires in the summer, it might not be a very good solution to play him in the Under-23s when there are only limited matches left at that level this season and Albion are more likely to be focused on handing game-time to young players who have a future at The Hawthorns.
Grosicki doesn’t have a future here so why let him play when game-time should be invested elsewhere?
In other West Brom news, Gary Lineker is calling for a rule change after what he saw happen in Albion’s win over Brighton.
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