Johnstone and Diangana to start: West Brom predicted XI v Sheffield United after Steve Bruce update
Steve Bruce is expected to make three changes to the starting line-up as he prepares for his first game in charge of West Brom on Wednesday night.
Albion take on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in their first match since Valerien Ismael was sacked in the wake of the 2-0 loss at Millwall on 29 January and was replaced by Bruce.
Ahead of the match, Bruce confirmed via the Birmingham Mail on 8 February that he’ll be without the injured Kyle Bartley and Matt Phillips, who join Dara O’Shea, Kean Bryan and Daryl Dike in being unavailable.
As a result, we expect that goalkeeper David Button will be axed and replaced by Sam Johnstone with Bartley and Phillips being replaced by Semi Ajayi and Grady Diangana respectively.
Johnstone, 28, was left out of Ismael’s last two matches in charge of the Baggies due to a report falling out between the pair. But with Ismael gone, Bruce has confirmed that he’s going to play Johnstone after drop 32-year-old Button.
Due to the way the squad is made up and the personnel available, we’re predicting a familiar, yet flexible, starting line-up with Cedric Kipre, Ajayi and Matthew Clarke in the back-three. Ajayi’s ability to play in a holding midfield role could see Bruce switch to a back-four and a midfield three.
Darnell Furlong and Conor Townsend are both predicted to start in the wing-back roles with Alex Mowatt and Jake Livermore yet again in the centre of the midfield.
In the attack, Diangana could start on the right with Karlan Grant on the left. Callum Robinson is also an option but he’s done better as a substitute this season and Diangana is probably in better form.
Up front, due to Dike’s injury, Andy Carroll is predicted to spearhead the attack once more.
In other West Brom news, this Ismael signing could be sweating over his spot in the side after a transfer story emerged.