West Brom receive injury boost as Andy Carroll set for return v Birmingham
Steve Bruce will have Andy Carroll at his disposal once again on Sunday when West Brom travel to local rivals Birmingham City.
The 33-year-old missed the Baggies trip to Bristol City prior to the international break with a small niggle but Bruce has confirmed that the former England international is back fit to face the Blues.
BBC Radio West Midlands Sport reported, via their Twitter account, Bruce’s comments as he also mentioned that Daryl Dike would be out for the season.
Carroll has just one goal to his name since he joined Albion late in January which came late on in the 2-2 draw against Huddersfield at The Hawthorns last month.
He has been reduced to being more of an impact substitute recently with Callum Robinson and Karlan Grant playing in a front two over the past four games, during which the Baggies haven’t lost.
Perfect substitute
If you could ask any manager in world football to build their ideal substitute, you would get something very close to Carroll’s skillset.
At 33 years of age, he isn’t necessarily the quickest player on any pitch he steps onto but what he does well, he does better than most.
When it comes to winning aerial battles and holding the ball up, there is possibly no better player in the UK, maybe even Europe.
He has such a physical presence that defenders can never seem to find a way to defend him when you add in his subtle but effective neat touches in tight areas.
His huge jump also helps when defending a lead too because he will rarely get beaten when defending a corner.
It isn’t the role he would have envisaged when he arrived at The Hawthorns but he can do a grand job there if he gets his head down.
In other West Brom news, this “future captain” of Albion is set to have contract talks with the club very soon.
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