West Brom have had no contact with Norwich City about termination of Jordan Hugill loan
West Brom manager Valerien Ismael has suggested that there are no plans for Jordan Hugill’s loan spell from Norwich City to end early.
The striker has scored just once in 17 appearances this season, becoming a source of frustration among supporters for his lack of efficiency in front of goal.
Journalist Alan Nixon revealed last weekend (5 December) that Norwich were set to recall Hugill in January after his disappointing Hawthorns spell.
However, speaking yesterday (10 December), Ismael said there had been no contact with the Canaries but admitted that the 29-year-old did need to step up his game.
“I think that since he [Hugill] came here he has given us a lot of effort,” Ismael said. “I think we can see he has tried to give everything. Some situations have been unlucky for him.
“He definitely should have scored more goals. Against Bristol City he could have four goals in the game and in the Blackpool game and in the Nottingham Forest game he had big chances for us.
“As a number nine you need to score goals, this is why you get your money.
“But I think his mentality is right. He works hard in training and sometimes the striker just needs the confidence at the right moment.”
Flop
Hugill’s time at West Brom so far has been a major disappointment and there are probably some supporters who are hoping that he does return to Norwich in January.
The striker scored 12 goals in the Championship for Preston North End in 2016-17 and 13 for Queens Park Rangers in 2019-20 but he has now netted just four times over the last season and a half.
He was supposed to be the man to spearhead Albion’s promotion charge, in the same way Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dominic Solanke have done so at Fulham and Bournemouth respectively, but he has flopped; now the Baggies will be on the lookout for a new centre forward in January.
Hugill has not started since the end of October, highlighting Ismael’s lack of trust in him, but perhaps he will be given more of a chance over the busy Christmas period if the manager does want to try to increase his confidence.
In other West Brom news, David Prutton has predicted the outcome of today’s game against Reading.
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