Kevin Phillips reacts as West Brom sign Jordan Hugill
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 has reservations about new West Brom signing Jordan Hugill after he joined on loan from Norwich this week.
On Wednesday evening, Albion announced the 29-year-old’s striker on a season-long loan from Carrow Road after he helped the Canaries win promotion to the Premier League last season.
Hugill is by no means a prolific goalscorer with 46 goals in his 207 Championship appearances to date.
Phillips wants to see what the former West Ham striker can do at The Hawthorns but doesn’t seem as though he’s expecting fireworks from him.
Speaking to West Brom News, Phillips said: “He’s got a lot to prove.
“He had a bit of a reputation at Preston, there were a few people interested in him and he got his move [to West Ham] but it’s never quite worked out. Now, you just hope that it’s not a similar situation to when Kenneth Zohore came to West Brom when they come with a reputation and don’t follow it up.
“It is an area we wanted to see West Brom strengthen in and they’ve gone for a player thats’ powerful and on his day he can be a handful.
“For me, he’s got to prove himself and I hope he does that.
“The good thing is he’ll be playing with players who will create opportunities for him. I’m sceptical but let’s hope he does well.”
As Norwich won promotion last season, Hugill made 31 Championship appearances and scored just four goals.
However, he started only seven league fixtures for Daniel Farke’s side and he’s likely to have been signed by Albion to play a similar role to add strength in depth to Valerien Ismael’s attack.
In other West Brom news, talkSPORT reporters have blasted the club for a “disgrace” they noticed against Arsenal.
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