Jeremy Sarmiento to make full debut, Nathaniel Chalobah axed in eight changes – West Brom predicted XI v Stoke City
Carlos Corberan is expected to make eight changes to his West Brom starting lineup for their upcoming EFL cup first-round clash against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday (8 August).
West Brom were unable to get their third straight Championship term off to a positive start on Saturday afternoon, suffering a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park against Jon Dahl Tomasson’s Blackburn.
And with the EFL Cup campaign to begin in midweek, the Spaniard may be tempted into several changes to have an eye on those who started Blackburn tie on the bench, with Brighton loanee Jeremy Sarmiento expected to make his full debut.
In goal, there were concerns that Alex Palmer would be sold after Luton made a move for him, but the Baggies held firm and rejected the Premier League club’s final offer and he is now expected to stay at The Hawthorns.
Palmer started the game at Blackburn but Corberan may be tempted to hand young goalkeeper Josh Griffiths a first start of the campaign.
In defence, Dara O’Shea has moved on to Burnley, leaving a gaping hole in the centre of defence.
That has been filled by Cedric Kipre who returned from his loan spell at Cardiff and started the game on Saturday in defence alongside Semi Ajayi.
But Corberan will be looking to use Tuesday’s cup exploits as an opportunity to cast his eye on an experienced pairing in Kyle Bartley and Erik Pieters, flanked by Darnell Furlong and Conor Townsend who continue at right-back, and left-back respectively.
In midfield, Alex Mowatt will be itching for a start following his return from an impressive loan spell at Middlesbrough last season and his experience and qualities in midfield could prove invaluable in a one-off cup tie against fellow Championship opposition.
Mowatt could come into replace Nathaniel Chalobah and line up alongside key Corberan enforcer Jayson Molumby who is expected to start after sitting out Saturday’s defeat, with Okay Yokuslu dropping to the bench.
In attack, Corberan will again be expected to ring the changes and the Spaniard should hand Brighton loanee Sarmiento his full Albion swansong after coming on as a second-half substitute against Blackburn.
The Baggies were largely wasteful in attack on Saturday, recording 14 shots and four on target, scoring just one goal and it may prove very effective for the Spaniard to bring in some invention and youthful imagination by also including the evergreen John Swift and West Brom wonder Jovan Malcolm.
Grady Diangana is subject to interest from several clubs but is still injured and also won’t play here while up front, Daryl Dike is still not fit so won’t feature, and Corberan may continue with Brandon Thomas-Asante as his main man up top, after new signing Josh Maja was nowhere to be seen on Saturday.
The Baggies managed to do the double over Stoke in the 2022-23 season, with a Molumby brace securing all three points at the bet365 Stadium back in April and Corberan will be expectant of his men to right Saturday’s wrongs with a crucial victory on Tuesday.
In other West Brom news, one experienced first-team ace now out until 2024 as surgery decision made.