Chris Lepkowski urges West Brom to give Josh Griffiths an opportunity after David Button howlers v Birmingham City
Chris Lepkowski has urged West Brom to give Josh Griffiths a chance while Alex Palmer is injured after David Button made two costly errors in the 2-0 defeat to Birmingham City.
Corberan’s men got off to the worst possible start in the local derby when Manchester United loanee Hannibal Mejbri scored an audacious free-kick which caught out Button’s poor positioning, expecting a cross rather than a shot.
The 33-year-old, replacing the injured Alex Palmer as Baggies’ number one, was also at fault for the second goal too, failing to punch clear a Mejbri corner which allowed Krystian Bielik to double Birmingham’s lead.
Griffiths, 21, was recalled from his season-long loan spell at League One outfit Portsmouth and already boasts more than 100 career games from EFL stints at Cheltenham, Lincoln and Pompey, played 28 games during the first half of the campaign at Fratton Park, managing eight clean sheets.
And Lepkowski took to his Twitter account [10 February] to state that the young goalkeeper deserves his opportunity to impress as Button is shot on confidence.
He tweeted: “Griffiths has played 99 first-team games across three loan spells. He’s not a kid. Give him a chance while palmer is injured.
“For the sake of his own well-being Button needs to be brought out of the team (his performances need no further analysis). His confidence is gone.”
Deserves a chance
Griffiths impressed during his short stint at Portsmouth, managing eight clean sheets from 28 games at Fratton Park. Corberan recalled the youngster for a reason, as he believes he’s got what it takes to impress him and claim a starting spot in his team.
The 21-year-old certainly deserves a chance. Lepkowski is right, Button is shot on confidence right now and certainly needs to sit out following his two incredibly costly errors against Birmingham City.
The Sky Bet Championship is the perfect division for young goalkeepers to learn their trade and Griffiths is no different as he could well become the shot-stopper he is primed to be if Corberan hands him with the tools to thrive.
Some Baggies fans may indeed consider it a risk, with the English second division a real baptism of fire for young players, and considering the stakes Corberan faces to deliver promotion back to the Premier League, he’ll need to continue to rely on experienced individuals to deliver.
Even so, Griffiths is a talented young goalkeeper, and his development and maturity may be given a real boost if he’s trusted with a run of games.
In other West Brom news, the boss posted a message direct to the supporters after the huge news coming out of the club.