West Brom confirmed starting XI v Sunderland: Jovan Malcolm axed from squad, Okay Yokuslu returns
West Brom have confirmed their starting XI for their crunch Championship clash against Sunderland at The Hawthorns on Sunday.
Carlos Corberan has made one change to the team which beat Blackpool 2-0 on Tuesday evening (18 April) with Okay Yokuslu coming in to replace the injured Nathaniel Chalobah.
There’s also one change on the bench with 20-year-old Jovan Malcolm dropping out of the squad for the returning Kyle Bartley.
Huge
This really is season-defining for the Baggies. Results on Saturday couldn’t have fallen better for Coberan’s side, with a fifth-place finish now within Albion’s control. The wins over Stoke and Blackpool have come at the perfect time. The playoffs are all about momentum and the Baggies’ current form means they stand an excellent chance of cementing their place in the top six.
Sunderland travel to The Hawthorns needing a win. They’re still in with a shout of the top six but can ill-afford to drop points on Sunday. It’s been an excellent return to the second tier for the Black Cats, with a top-half finish an impressive achievement. Nonetheless, Tony Mowbray will still have his sights on promotion and denting Albion’s promotion hopes.
With Sunderland needing to win, there could well be chances for West Brom to exploit Mowbray’s side on the counterattack, with the pace of Brandon Thomas-Asante potentially being a good outlet.
Considering where West Brom were under Steve Bruce, the turnaround has been remarkable. With this in mind, the board will be kicking themselves if Corberan’s men miss out on the playoffs. A decision on the former boss should have been made sooner.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies have sent scouts to track an in-demand defender who’s set to leave as they begin planning for the summer transfer window.