Daniel Lewis

Wed 4 October 2023 9:10, UK

Express & Star journalist Lewis Cox has confirmed that West Brom midfielder Grady Diangana was left out against Sheffield Wednesday partly due to illness.

Diangana was dropped from Albion’s starting line-up for the 1-0 win on Tuesday [3 October], despite a starring role in the thumping 4-0 victory at Preston North End three days earlier.

Brandon Thomas-Asante was recalled to the XI, with Diangana restricted to just four minutes off the substitutes’ bench at the end of the contest at The Hawthorns.

But Cox later revealed, after discussing the team selection with Albion manager Carlos Corberan, that the 25-year-old was not feeling 100% ahead of the match.

“[Corberan] actually revealed to us just now that Diangana was ill last night and today, so that’s another part of the reason why he didn’t start,” Cox said [Express & Star, 3 September].

“Diangana deserved to stay in the side, didn’t he? Let’s be honest”.

Unfortunate

The big question mark heading into the visit of Wednesday was whether Corberan, who has showed this season he is not afraid to make mass changes between games, would stick with the same side that eased past Preston.

That was arguably Albion’s best result under the Spaniard, yet he decided to recall centre-forward Thomas-Asante alongside Jed Wallace and match-winner John Swift in attack.

Diangana was unfortunate to make way, but this update explains Corberan’s decision to alter a winning formula.

The former West Ham player had previously started back-to-back games, and it will be interesting to see if he is recalled to the XI – whether in place of Thomas-Asante or someone else – for the trip to neighbours Birmingham City on Friday [6 October].

Either way, the Baggies will enter that big showdown full of confidence after getting the job done against bottom side Wednesday to make it five games without defeat.

In other West Brom news, Corberan also revealed a player is facing around four weeks on the sidelines.