Kyle Bartley axed in two changes as Steve Bruce faces serious pressure – West Brom predicted XI v Norwich
Steve Bruce is predicted to axe Kyle Bartley from the West Brom starting line-up ahead of the trip to Carrow Road to play Norwich on Saturday afternoon.
With just one win in nine Championship games and a first home defeat to Birmingham in 17 years this week, Bruce is under major pressure to turn things around at The Hawthorns [The Athletic].
In a bid to get his side back to winning ways, there’s a chance Bartley, 31, will be dropped after he was booed off the field for his abject defensive performance in the 3-2 defeat to Blues.
Bartley was hooked by Bruce in the 77th minute and in the game before, in the 1-1 with Burnley, he was also substituted off after a shoddy performance at centre-half.
With Semi Ajayi injured and Martin Kelly far away from match fitness, we feel as though Bruce has no option but to bring Jake Livermore back into the side to replace Bartley with the Albion captain showing previously that he is capable of playing at centre-back.
There could also be a change in the attack too.
Brandon Thomas-Asante has come off the bench to score in his first two West Brom appearances after joining from Salford City a few weeks back. He could replace Grady Diangana in the side, pushing Karlan Grant into a left-wing role.
David Button is expected to keep his spot in goals behind a back-four of Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Livermore, Dara O’Shea and Conor Townsend.
Okay Yokuslu and Jayson Molumby are predicted to start in the central midfield roles with John Swift ahead of them in a more advanced position.
Jed Wallace is likely to keep his spot on the right-wing while Grant could start on the left to make room for Thomas-Asante to make his full debut up front.
In other West Brom news, Simon Jordan says there are talks going on behind the scenes at The Hawthorns with Bruce.