Early West Brom team news v Coventry: Kyle Bartley and Semi Ajayi updates shared
Kyle Bartley is set to be missing for West Brom as the Baggies get set to face Coventry in their latest Championship fixture on Wednesday evening (21 December).
The Express and Star’s Lewis Cox has revealed (via Twitter, 20 December) the 31-year-old, who had previously scored against Stoke and QPR, is struggling with an illness after suffering a groin strain.
Semi Ajayi could return for Carlos Corberan’s side after recovering from a shoulder injury that he sustained in the lead-up to the recent fixture against Sunderland.
Boost
Bartley has been in good form since Corberan’s arrival and will be missed, however, it’s a boost for the Baggies to have Ajayi back in contention. The 29-year-old has been plagued by injuries during the early part of the 2022/23 season and will be hoping to make an impact for the Baggies in the second half of the campaign.
Five wins on the spin has certainly brought a feel-good factor back to The Hawthorns, with the playoffs very much in sight for the Baggies. Considering the dreadful start to the season, it’s remarkable for West Brom to only be five points off of sixth-placed Queen’s Park Rangers.
It’s a testament to the work Corberan has done since his arrival, but it also displays just how bad things were under Steve Bruce at the start of the season. This group of players were always capable of competing near the top of the league, and finally, they are beginning to fulfil their potential.
In other West Brom news, Nigel Quashie urges Corberan to manage Dike carefully this season