Exclusive: Phillips doesn’t see Diangana playing much for West Brom this season
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…
Grady Diangana is unlikely to play much for West Brom between now and the end of the season, according to Kevin Phillips.
Diangana, 22, became West Brom’s record signing in the summer when he made a permanent move to The Hawthorns from West Ham but is yet to light up the Black Country in the Premier League as he did in the Championship while on loan last term.
The England Under-21s international has also played just once in Albion’s last 11 Premier League with Sam Allardyce leaving him as an unused substitute against Burnley last month before handing him an 18-minute cameo in the win versus Brighton.
Diangana missed most of those matches through injury but has now missed the last two matches due to illness [Birmingham Mail].
However, ex-Baggies striker Phillips doesn’t see Diangana playing much of a role under Allardyce in the Premier League once he is available again due to the manager already having his best team set in his mind.
“From the outside looking in, it looks as though he doesn’t fancy him,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“Sam’s got in his head the rough team he wants to play. Of course, [Robert] Snodgrass hasn’t been playing but I expect him to come back in.
“I actually don’t think Diangana will get much game-time from now until the end of the season if I’m being honest.
“I don’t think it’s an injury thing, I think it’s just one of those where Sam’s come in and thought, ‘no, it’s not for me unless we’re right down to the bare bones’.
“It’s unfortunate because he’s had an injury-ravaged season. Is he fully fit? Is he sharp enough to go straight back in and make an impression?
“It’s a tough one and obviously there’s Grosicki still there who doesn’t get a sniff.
“Sam’s made his mind up if I’m being honest.”
Diangana has made 17 appearances in all competitions for West Brom since joining them permanently but has scored just one goal and hasn’t supplied any assists.
For Slaven Bilic, his performances were nowhere near as good as they were in the Championship while for Big Sam, it’s been tough to say due to his injury issues.
But Allardyce has started to taking a fancy towards playing Matt Phillips on the left-wing while Karlan Grant, Snodgrass and Kamil Grosicki have all been used there too.
Diangana has a fight on his hands to get back into Allardyce’s side but he’s still a young player who’s getting to grips with the Premier League. We have to be more patient with him than some of the other players who’ve come through the door in the last year.
In other West Brom news, Lee Dixon slammed this one “terrible” player in the 0-0 draw with Newcastle.
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