Exclusive: Phillips doesn’t expect Diangana to start in West Brom clash v Palace
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 expects Sam Allardyce to overlook Grady Diangana again this weekend despite the winger scoring for the West Brom Under-23s on Monday.
Diangana, 22, has played just twice for the senior side in 2021 due to a thigh injury and a bout of illness but returned to action with Deon Burton’s youth side this week in their Premier League 2 win over Burnley.
The former West Ham attacker managed to get himself on the scoresheet and get 68 minutes of action under his belt in the match at The Hawthorns and is likely to be available for selection by Allardyce this weekend when Albion play away at Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Phillips wants to see Diangana in the squad because he’s shown enough in the past to suggest he can be a real game-changer for the Albion.
However, Phillips would be surprised to see him start at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
“I would try to involve him but we’re not privy to the day in, day out of training. Obviously Sam’s seen enough in training to suggest he doesn’t want him, he’s not going to be of use or have an effect on the squad,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“But we’ve seen him in the Championship, we’ve seen him on his day and he can play extremely well.
“He might be a player they have to turn to now and just get in there and give it your best. All the player can do is play for the Under-23s, do his best and see what happens.
“There are only 10 games left. If he does come in he’s got an opportunity to shine and really put himself in the frame for the rest of the season.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t involve him this weekend.”
It would be fair to say that Diangana has struggled for West Brom in the Premier League this season.
While the England Under-21s ace tore up the Championship last term to help the Baggies win promotion, it hasn’t been the same story since his loan move from West Ham was made a permanent one for a club-record fee.
Diangana has just one goal and hasn’t supplied any in his 16 Premier League appearances this season.
But, with Albion heading back to the Championship, there’s still enough of a reason to have faith in Grady. Hopefully we’ll see some more of him in the coming weeks but at the moment, Matt Phillips’ spot in the starting line-up seems nailed down.
In other West Brom news, John Percy has shared a major transfer update on the Baggies.
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