Steve Bruce outlines how West Brom will improve over international break
Steve Bruce believes the international break will provide some much-needed respite for his West Brom squad as they look to turn around torrid form.
Albion have started the season with just one win in their opening 10 Championship matches, but Bruce remains confident of turning things around at The Hawthorns.
Draws have plagued the Baggies’ season, with their latest coming on Saturday during their 1-1 stalemate with Norwich City. Bruce has to help the side rediscover their winning touch, or he’ll find himself out of the hot seat.
But the 61-year-old manager believes the international break has come at a great time for his squad to reach peak fitness and regroup ahead of a hectic autumn schedule.
“We will be better after the break, because it gives us the chance for certain individuals to get the work they need,” said Bruce, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail.
“We should have a far healthier squad to pick from.”
Injuries are no excuse
The Baggies have been hamstringed by a number of injuries to key players this season – but there are still a handful of matches that could (and should) have resulted in three points.
On top of that, fingers need to be pointed at the club’s recruitment in the summer. Signings were left very late, and Bruce was forced to dip into the free agent market to pick up Tom Rogic and Erik Pieters after seeing a number of his transfer targets slip through his fingers.
Bruce explained how he’ll use the international break to get his players up to speed, in particular those who arrived late on in the window.
“This period to get them up to speed is crucial now for them. That’s what we’ll be doing with them,” Bruce added.
But regardless of player selection and lineups, Bruce’s overall tactical decisions this season haven’t been good enough. There’s still time for things to turn around with the club only five points off the play-off places, but results will have to change quickly.
Bruce may well have played the final card left under his sleeve, as if he doesn’t follow through on his promise to improve after the international break – he’ll be waving goodbye to his position at the club.
In other West Brom news, a reliable journalist shares the latest updates on Steve Bruce’s future