Alex Mowatt played through pain barrier for West Brom prior to surgery says Steve Bruce
West Brom midfielder Alex Mowatt had been playing with a groin problem for most of the season before surgery for the issue abruptly ended his campaign.
The 27-year-old has been a regular in the Albion lineup since his free transfer arrival from Barnsley last summer but has struggled to maintain his form as the team slowly sunk down the Championship table.
And now Baggies manager Steve Bruce has said that Mowatt had been battling with injury issues even before the former Newcastle boss walked through the door at the Hawthorns in February.
“The issue had been niggling away at him for a while,” Bruce told the Express & Star (26 April).
“Before I came in he was having injections and I think it’s fair to say the injury caught up with him.
“It was important we got it (the operation) done but he will be back for pre-season and hopefully then we will see him at his best and raring to go.”
Unfortunate Circumstances
Mowatt’s personal circumstances as the season has gone on somewhat typify the pattern of Albion’s fortunes during the same period.
Leeds’ academy graduate grabbed two goals in the opening four games as Valerien Ismael led the Baggies on an impressive start that had them challenging near the top of the table.
However he first picked up this troublesome injury in October and has failed to recapture anywhere near the form he had begun the season with since returning.
That along with the dip in performances of many others ultimately lost Ismael his job and it is frustrating to see a player who can clearly perform at this level struggle to find any consistency to their game.
He impressed greatly when Barnsley shocked everyone to reach the play-offs last season and it’s disappointing that he hasn’t had a similar impact yet at the Hawthorns.
Here’s hoping if this niggle can be fully put to bed over the summer that we see that version of Mowatt turning out for the Baggies in the future.
In other West Brom news, Kevin Phillips has had his say on the Baggies campaign.
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