Jonty Banks

Tue 25 April 2023 17:00, UK

Carlos Corberan is expected to make two changes to his West Brom starting lineup for their upcoming Championship clash against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Wednesday (26 April).

The Baggies fell to a bitterly disappointing 2-1 defeat to promotion rivals Sunderland at the weekend, leaving their chances of securing a playoff spot hanging by a thread.

With just three games of their Championship season remaining, West Brom currently sit two points off Sunderland in sixth.

After a lengthy injury layoff, Alex Palmer has re-established himself as the Baggies’ number one with a string of strong performances and is expected to start in between the sticks against the Blades.

Darnell Furlong and Connor Townsend have made the full-back positions their own this season and Corberan will hope that they can both add an extra string to West Brom’s attacking bow by supporting their respective wingers.

Semi Ajayi has put past injury concerns and a sticky patch of form behind him and is likely to start beside the ever-dependable Erik Pieters, who has made the transition from a full-back to a centre-back look like a formality this term.

Corberan is likely to make his first change to the starting lineup in the middle of the park, with Taylor Gardner-Hickman to be the nod ahead of the rusty Okay Yokuslu.

The 29-year-old returned from an ankle injury against Sunderland last weekend but looked a yard off the pace throughout and, if anything, a little unfit to start from the first whistle.

Despite the importance of the match, the Baggies can’t afford any players to start who slightly rusty, so Gardner-Hickman is expected to be given a run out alongside Jayson Molumby in central midfield.

Further forward, Corberan is still without Daryl Dike, who is set to be sidelined for up to nine months, as well as Grady Diangana and Matty Phillips.

Brandon Thomas-Asante is therefore expected to lead the line, while Jed Wallace should be fielded on the right wing and John Swift in a central attacking position.

Corberan’s second change could come on the left side of attack, with Marc Albrighton’s experience likely to be a massive trump card compared to Karlan Grant.

Considering the threat the Blades offer on the counter-attack, it won’t just be the January signings attacking threat that will be useful, but also his dogged defensive work.

Grant has failed to set the world alight since being given a more prominent role in recent weeks and is therefore expected to be benched for the must-win clash.

In other West Brom news, Tony Brown raves about one WBA player despite 2-1 loss v Sunderland.