Valerien Ismael issues West Brom COVID-19 quartet update as Matt Phillips ruled out of Barnsley clash
Matt Phillips has been ruled out of Friday night’s clash at Barnsley but West Brom will welcome back their four players who tested positive for COVID-19.
Cedrick Kipre, Conor Townsend, Semi Ajayi and Matt Clarke all contracted the virus last week and were forced to isolate, missing Albion’s 1-0 win over Reading at The Hawthorns on Saturday (11 December).
But they will all return at Oakwell on Friday (17 December), alongside Grady Diangana, as The Athletic’s Steve Madeley shared via his personal Twitter profile on Thursday afternoon (16 December).
Madeley wrote: “Update from Valerien Ismael’s press conference: All four players who missed Saturday with Covid due back in training today and available for tomorrow, although clearly they’ll have limited training.
“Grady Diangana also back. Matt Phillips still missing.”
Changes?
Albion dealt superbly with a number of key absentees to see off Reading last weekend.
Ismael was forced to completely alter his side as a COVID outbreak emerged just days before the game.
With a host of defenders out, Ismael opted to field midfielders Jake Livermore and Adam Reach alongside Kyle Bartley in a three-man defence, while Taylor Gardner-Hickman was deployed as a left wing-back.
On the bench, meanwhile, there was not an outfielder over the age of 20.
Callum Robinson proved to be the hero as his 62nd-minute goal sunk the Royals in the West Midlands, and Ismael must now decide whether to stick with a winning team.
It seems unlikely, though, as Clarke will surely return, possibly with Cedric Kipre, to partner Bartley at the back.
Townsend will also hope to return to his left wing-back role, though that could be an unpopular move with supporters desperate to see Gardner-Hickman stay in the side in some capacity.
Livermore, meanwhile, will be eyeing Jayson Molumby’s spot in the entre of midfield.
In other West Brom news, Simon Jordan has launched into an on-air rant over a recent Albion controversy.
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