Valerien Ismael likely to wield West Brom axe on Taylor `Gardner-Hickman for Reading clash – The Athletic
Taylor Gardner-Hickman is likely to be dropped from the starting XI on Saturday as West Brom host Reading at The Hawthorns (11 December).
That’s according to Steve Madeley, writing for The Athletic on Wednesday (8 December), who suggests the 19-year-old’s Man of the Match performance in the middle of midfield against Coventry last weekend (4 December) will not be enough for him to keep his place against the Royals.
On Garnder-Hickman, Madeley said: “He is still regarded largely by Ismael as a stop-gap option in that role and remains more likely to get his game-time in his more accustomed position out wide.”
Harsh?
Primarily a right-back, or a right wing-back in Ismael’s favoured system, Gardner-Hickman shuffled across to the middle of midfield for Albion’s 2-1 victory at Coventry last Saturday, suitably impressing fans with an industrious display.
However, Jake Livermore and Jayson Molumby are both back in contention for this weekend, with Madeley suggesting that the former will get the nod alongside Alex Mowatt on account of his experience and leadership skills.
The 32-year-old was banned last time out as he served the final game of the suspension he picked up in the 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town last month (20 November).
Livermore has come under fire from his own supporters but he seems to have the full backing of Ismael who starts his captain whenever he can.
Dropping Gardner-Hickman for Livermore would go down like a lead balloon among the Baggies faithful, but it looks likely to happen.
If it goes wrong, Ismael will be under heavy pressure from supporters.
In other West Brom news, Simon Jordan has launched into an on-air rant over a recent Albion controversy.
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