Karlan Grant to start for injured Daryl Dike in one change – West Brom predicted XI v Blackpool
West Brom boss Carlos Corberan may be forced to start Karlan Grant in their only change for their Championship clash with Blackpool on Tuesday (16 April).
The 25-year-old star is yet to start under Spaniard in the Championship after his botched January move to Swansea City and he could well come into the team after a worrying injury development in their crucial 2-1 win over Stoke City.
American international Daryl Dike was stretchered off the pitch after falling awkwardly on his ankle in the first half of the clash at the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday (15 April) – another damaging injury blow for West Brom in their quest for the playoff places.
Corberan’s side moved to within two points of Blackburn Rovers with just five games of their Championship season left but could potentially be without Dike for the remainder of the season after the Baggies manager confirmed he had damaged his Achilles.
That should see Grant return to the starting line-up making his first Championship start since October [WhoScored].
Other than that, the Spaniard may be tempted to field the same starting eleven that took to the field against Stoke City on Saturday [15 April].
Alex Palmer who replaced the struggling Josh Griffiths in the Baggies goal should keep his place as he still remains Corberan’s number one when fit, after recently returning from injury at the Bet 365 stadium.
Corberan is likely to stick with the same back four from the match against QPR, with Darnell Furlong and Conor Townsend as the full-backs and Semi Ajayi and Erik Pieters as the centre-backs, although the former Burnley man struggled at the Bet 365 Stadium but Corberan should trust him to reclaim his form once again.
Ahead of them, Nathaniel Chalobah is expected to keep his place in the West Brom midfield alongside the Stoke matchwinner Jayson Molumby despite news emerging that the box-to-box midfielder is taking painkilling injections for an ankle injury.
However, the Republic of Ireland midfield should start once again as Corberan deals with a whole host of injury issues and Molumby’s dynamism from midfield is too pivotal for the club to miss right now.
And going forward, Corberan is expected to once again rely on trio Jed Wallace, John Swift and Brandon Thomas-Asante, although the Spaniard will be expecting more creativity and invention from the latter who flattered to deceive against Stoke in an unfamiliar left-wing role, picking up a torrid 6.4/10 score – the second worst of any West Brom player after Pieters as per SofaScore.
Thomas-Asante should be handed another chance but his place could well be threatened with Marc Albrighton ready to replace him should he struggle once again.
The win over Stoke was the Baggies’ first on the road since January and they face another testing away tie against Blackpool on Tuesday [16 April]. Win this game and West Brom could find themselves in the playoff places should other results go their way.
Huge.
In other West Brom news, ITV pundit reacts to ‘incredible’ development after 2-1 win v Stoke City.