Carlos Corberan ready to unleash new West Brom signing Pipa against Bristol City
Carlos Corberan has confirmed Pipa will be “ready to play” when West Brom return to Championship action against Bristol City on 16 September.
The 25-year-old, who previously worked with Corberan at Huddersfield Town and Olympiacos, joined on loan from Ludogorets on deadline day [1 September].
Pipa has not played a competitive game since mid-July, but he took part in pre-season training with Ludogorets and is available for the trip to Ashton Gate.
“He has been the last 15 days without competing, but he’s been training with the group and he is ready to play,” Corberan is quoted as saying by the Express & Star [5 September].
“He is a player I’m looking forward to working with because I think that he still has a big gap for improvement.
“This can be a positive and a negative at the same time, but I want to work with him to cover this gap, to make from him the most competitive player he can be.
“For me, the fact that he arrived from a difficult challenge, or experience, in Ludogorets, will help us to develop him to the level that I consider we need him to have, and show.”
Exciting signing
Corberan knows exactly what he is getting in compatriot Pipa following their time together at Huddersfield and Olympiacos.
The right-back will use the international break to further acclimatise to life at a new club, before then providing stern competition for Darnell Furlong.
Pipa is an attack-first defender who can also play further up the field, giving Corberan the option of changing things around in-game should he wish.
In fact, with four assists and two goals in 37 Championship appearances with Huddersfield in 2020-21, Pipa looks as though he will be a valuable attacking weapon.
With Jeremy Sarmiento, Josh Maja and Ruben Shakpoke also being brought in over the summer, Corberan’s squad now looks a lot healthier than it did at the start of last month.
And supporters now look likely to get a first glimpse of their latest arrival when club action resumes towards the end of next week.
In other West Brom news, Adrian Goldberg has named the one Albion player that was not available to purchase this summer.