Former West Brom foward Hal Robson-Kanu makes major Matt Phillips claim
A fit Matt Phillips for the upcoming season will result in West Brom being promoted to the Premier League, according to Hal Robson-Kanu.
The 31-year-old missed two months earlier this year with a broken toe, with Steve Bruce only able to call on him for the final few games of the season once the promotion bid had long run off course.
He has been absent for chunks of nearly every season he has been at the club and is one of the Baggies’ highest earners, a combination which led Steve Madeley in The Athletic on 2 June to suggest he was seen as “part of the problem” by fans who wanted a tired squad to be broken up.
But that is not a view shared by ex-Albion forward Robson-Kanu who was released last summer.
The Welsh international posted on his personal Twitter account Sunday evening (17 July): “If WBA can keep M.Phillips available for selection for 90%+ league games this season = Guaranteed #promotion”.
He then followed up in the comments to add: “He’s one of the hardest workers on and off the field I’ve come across, everyone needs that bit of luck and his is due!”
Big words
In theory Phillips should be one of the leading elements of the Baggies squad, but he has flattered to deceive during his time at the Hawthorns.
His former teammate may be right that it is bad luck that has prevented him from reaching his full potential in an Albion shirt.
But it is still some claim to make that he is the route to guaranteed promotion, not that many fans would be complaining if he was to be proven right.
In 206 appearances for the club Phillips has produced 26 goals and 26 assists, which isn’t a shocking overall return for someone who has played in various positions.
But availability is key and he can’t make an impact if he isn’t on the pitch, so it would be a considerable boost if he could emerge under Bruce as a key element.
Jed Wallace may have overtaken him in the pecking order for the right wing role, but Phillips’ versatility should see him feature somewhere.
The Robson-Kanu prediction could either end up looking ridiculous or prescient come the end of the upcoming campaign, and fans will certainly be hoping it is the latter.
In other West Brom news, one fan got an added bonus after managing to attend a pre-season behind-closed-doors friendly.