View: Grady Diangana mystery continues as West Brom ace starts for U23s
West Brom winger Grady Diangana has not enjoyed the successful return to the Premier League he will have been hoping for this season.
After an incredible loan spell at The Hawthorns, he made his switch from West Ham permanent in the summer, something that hasn’t worked so far.
Injuries have seen his progress slow after Slaven Bilic had built his side around him by splashing millions of cash to secure his signature.
Sam Allardyce hasn’t really done the same with the winger, who has only started four games since he arrived, and only once this year.
The 22-year-old has had injury problems and has only played 18 minutes of football since that 4-0 defeat against Arsenal over New Year.
Diangana has had his injury worries, and Sky Sports suggested that he missed the 0-0 draw with Newcastle due to illness.
Monday brought an all-time low, though.
Diangana was named in the starting XI for the Baggies under-23s clash against Burnley, only 24 hours after he missed the Newcastle game.
The winger can’t have been feeling ill, or he would have had to stay away from the training ground for more than one day given the COVID-19 protocols.
What is happening with Diangana?
Our marquee signing of the summer shouldn’t be struggling so much to be involved in the Premier League squad, especially just a spot on the bench.
Allardyce can’t be a massive fan of the winger, or he wouldn’t be drowning in the under-23s when he could be helping the Baggies in this survival fight.
Newcastle were there for the taking on Sunday, and the pace of Diangana could have been a real weapon when the likes of Matt Phillips were on the pitch.
This is just the latest turn in this mystery, and hopefully, he can cement his spot back in the first-team sooner rather than later.
In other West Brom news, Phillips makes big Diangana admission at The Hawthorns