Carlos Corberan can rejuvenate ‘incredible’ Grady Diangana at West Brom after injury – Andy Johnson
Carlos Corberan’s great man management skills can help rejuvenate Grady Diangana’s faltering career at West Brom, former Albion midfielder Andy Johnson has told Express and Star.
The 25-year-old has netted just seven goals since arriving at The Hawthorns three summers ago in an £18million deal from West Ham.
The attacker missed the end of the Baggies’ Championship campaign with a foot injury but is set to return with the rest of the first-team squad for the club’s pre-season training under Corberan next week.
“I really want to see Diangana under Carlos,” Johnson said.
“I think Grady’s the sort of players that need an arm around him.
“Carlos is great with the man management of players and will recognise it. Next season we could see the best of Grady, that’s saying something because he was incredible when he first arrived.
“Bartley was out of favour but Carlos put him back in, sung his praises in the press and loves him. When he came in the team he looked like a different player, rejuvenated with a zest for the game.
“Before he’d been a bit downbeat and not being used, nobody likes that, but if Carlos can do that to an older experienced pro like Bartley, imagine what he’s done to the younger players.”
Bundles of talent
There is no denying that there is a player inside Diangana that West Brom fans haven’t witnessed yet.
The attacker endured a pretty average 2022/23 campaign, netting four goals and providing three assists from 31 appearances and constantly being chopped in and out of the side by Corberan.
However, with Daryl Dike injured for the foreseeable future and Karlan Grant also expected to leave The Hawthorns this summer, there will be far more opportunity for game time over the coming months.
Pre-season will play a crucial role in getting himself back up to full fitness following a troublesome foot injury, and every Baggies fan will hope he comes back a rejuvenated player.
After putting pen to paper in a big-money transfer from West Ham, it is now Diangana to live up to his price tag and deliver the goods.
If West Brom are going to seriously contend for Championship promotion next season, Diangana is one player who will need to perform to the very best of his ability.
In other West Brom news, a Sky Sports pundit has lashed out at a Baggies employee and has mooted serious consequences behind the scenes at Hawthorns.