Carlos Corberan impressed by maturity of West Brom goalkeeper Josh Griffiths
West Brom boss Carlos Corberan heaped praise on young goalkeeper Josh Griffiths for his maturity and that he is growing with the team.
The 21-year-old was swiftly recalled from his impressive loan spell at Portsmouth last month following the long-term injury to first-choice Alex Palmer.
As a result of David Button’s poor form, Griffiths was immediately thrust into the team over the last two games against Blackburn Rovers and Watford, conceding four goals.
However, Corberan has been quick to back his young goalkeeper, claiming that the 21-year-old is growing since his inclusion.
Speaking to Express & Star [23 February], he said: “I think he’s growing with the team.
“He’s very young with not enough experience in the Championship.
“But I am watching the reaction I want to watch. Of course, when you concede three goals you can be thinking ‘that was the keeper’ but I was watching more accidents for some of the goals than mistakes of the keeper.
“He was mature in the first half, he made one pass to Wallace, he tried to play from the back. And I watched him manage the game with maturity, but unfortunately, the team couldn’t stop the moments they used to score the goals.”
Promising
Many fans and pundits may be inclined to criticise the young goalkeeper for his hand in some of the goals he’s conceded since his immediate thrust into Corberan’s setup, but that’s how a player his age learns and grows within the game.
Despite his small error against Blackburn Rovers, Griffiths certainly hasn’t allowed that error to get the best of him, immediately stepping up against Watford when Corberan is relying on him.
Such exposure to first-team football will only aid and further his development considerably. Mistakes are part and parcel of a young goalkeeper’s game and Griffiths is no different.
What’s clear is that the Baggies certainly have a talented goalkeeper on their hands, and there’s no reason why he can’t establish himself as a first-team regular under Corberan’s guidance in the coming months.
In other West Brom news, Albion have completed an under-the-radar singing after a player was spotted at The Hawthorns with his new club’s kit.