Kieran Gibbs likely to miss out again as West Brom play Everton
Kieran Gibbs is unlikely to return for West Brom on Thursday night when they welcome Everton to The Hawthorns, according to Sky Sports.
Gibbs, 31, has failed to make any of Sam Allardyce’s last four matchday squads in the Premier League and it turns out his run of absences could stretch to four matches due to a neck injury.
However there is positive news as Sky Sports adds Robert Snodgrass could return from his recent spell on the sidelines while Semi Ajayi is also available again after serving a one-match ban for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity against Burnley last month.
Slow trudge to Albion farewell
It would be a massive shock if Gibbs remains a West Brom player next season.
The former Arsenal left-back will see his Hawthorns contract expire in the summer and due to the fact he’s played so little football in the last year and a half, we’d expect him to be released.
Gibbs managed just 14 Championship appearances last season due to problems with injuries while this term, he’s sat out of games for a multitude of reasons.
Slaven Bilic seemed as though he was handing the ex-England international a chance to be his first-choice left-back in the Premier League but a sending off at Everton, and a subsequent three-match ban, saw Conor Townsend emerge and impress in the top-flight.
Townsend, when he’s been fit, has since become the first-choice left-back while Gibbs has also missed matches due to a positive COVID test in November and recent injury problems.
Gibbs has struggled to perform when he has been available so it just really doesn’t seem worthwhile keeping the left-back around past the end of this season.
It’s a shame because we’ve seen some good performances from the defender but ultimately, West Brom are going to be better off without him.
In other West Brom news, this youngster has been tipped to “take the league by storm” if the Albion sign him in the summer.
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