West Brom manager Carlos Corberan reveals a clear idea for Taylor Gardner-Hickman’s best position
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan reveals he can see a “very good number eight” in Taylor Gardner-Hickman and believes his future could be in midfield.
The 21-year-old ace has emerged as one of the club’s biggest footballing talents so far this campaign, so far featuring in 19 Championship games, though the youngster has played second-fiddle to Darnell Furlong at right-back.
Steve Bruce insisted on fielding Gardner-Hickman as a full-back during his time at West Brom, but Richard Beale who replaced him as interim manager before Corberan’s appointment immediately returned the 20-year-old to midfield during his first game in charge of the Baggies.
A 2-0 win against Reading in which Gardner-Hickman provided a goal and assist and was West Brom’s standout player.
Asked by Birmingham Live [10 February], as to which position he sees the player best in, Corberan detailed plans to try him as a midfielder in future and described him as a “very good number eight”.
He said: “I think he is clearly a number 8, who can quite clearly adapt as a number two.
“I think he can be as good as a number eight as he can a number two. He’s a player who, when he’s out, it’s unfair because I like him a lot. I like him a lot as a player.
“He’s a very good number 8, but we have players who are playing very well in that position too. Molumby is playing very well, and now we have Chalobah who, for me, can be another excellent number 8, but the competition isn’t bad. They know how to manage it, keep growing and to be ready to take the opportunity when they need to give the step they need to.
“Before I arrived he was playing as a wing-back and right back, under me he has been right back, but now with the addition of Chalobah to the team I can work more specifically with him – that position (right-back) is not his main one, but I know he can compete very well there too. Short-term, long-term, I can see a very good number eight who can adapt to play as a number two.”
Unique
Full-backs capable of playing in midfield in the modern game are seen as a unique and very rarer trait, especially with the emergence of right-backs being utilised as another midfielder in various setups, shown numerously in the Premier League.
The Baggies are blessed with a similar type of player in Gardner-Hickman as his versatility could well prove crucial for Corberan in the coming future.
The 21-year-old player is an incredibly gifted talent, a player who has a big future at the Hawthorns, and Corberan detailing plans to try him out as a midfielder in the future could be superb for his development and maturity.
Versatile footballers are the envy of many clubs amongst Europe’s elite nowadays, and the Baggies must ensure they entrust Gardner-Hickman with the responsibilities and trust to become a key figure at the Hawthorns in the near future.
In other West Brom news, Premier League giants Manchester United want to sign this West Brom sensation.