West Brom teenager Ethan Ingram in contention to start v Hull City
Ethan Ingram could be in contention to start at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night when West Brom play host to Hull City.
Ingram, 19, made his professional debut earlier this season when he started West Brom’s 6-0 loss to Arsenal in the League Cup on August 25.
However, that remains his only appearance to date, and he has only made the substitute bench once in the Championship during the 2021/22 campaign, away to Bournemouth on the opening day.
But Valerien Ismael could be set to hand the teenager his chance in the Championship tomorrow evening when Hull make the trip to the West Midlands.
Regular right wing-back Darnell Furlong will sit out the clash with the 22nd-placed side after he was dismissed during Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Fulham.
That incurs a one-match suspension and thus opens up a vacant spot on the right-hand side.
There appears to be two obvious contenders for that spot – Ingram and Matt Phillips.
The latter is the vastly experienced option, but it would require the 30-year-old moving back from his usual spot in the forward three.
After conceding three goals on the weekend, does Ismael really want to put an attacker in defence?
The argument for that would be that they are playing the division’s weakest attack as Hull have scored just nine goals in 15 Championship games, and just one in their last four.
However, this is a real chance for Ismael to blood a young player from the academy and row back some support from the Albion faithful, some of whom have voiced concerns over the ex-Barnsley boss and his methods this season.
West Brom Under-23 side drew 2-2 against Nottingham Forest Under-23s on Monday night and Ingram was absent from the squad, sending a huge hint that he’s set for a place in the matchday squad on Wednesday.
It remains to be seen whether Ismael will hand him a starting berth, however.
In other West Brom news, Jeff Stelling has shared his honest verdict on this major Albion player controversy against Fulham.
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