Carlos Corberan hints at starting role for West Brom gem Tom Fellows
Carlos Corberan has hinted that West Brom gem Tom Fellows could be given a starting place in the near future after his impressive displays from the bench.
Fellows has come from the bench to provide the attack with fresh legs against both Birmingham and Plymouth and was the bright spark against the latter in an otherwise dull affair.
The boss has praised the youngster, suggesting he may now be ready to make an impact from the start of the game, after singling him out as the most positive thing to come out of the last two games.
Speaking to the Express & Star on 23 October, the Baggies boss shared: “The most positive thing I can tell you of our attack was again the minutes from Tom Fellows.
“He was a player who helped the team to create something against Birmingham and he gave another step today [against Plymouth] to show he can help from the bench or even from the first XI.
“Sometimes in the process, they need confidence from the bench, and to have minutes which are different from the first XI. When you play against an opponent with 60-70 minutes in the legs, it’s different when they’re fresh from the beginning.
“He is someone ready to mature, ready to help the team and he has very good conditions. We will use him from the bench or from the start, but now he has proved that he is one solution more.”
Good to see him stepping up
Fellows has certainly been a positive despite the underwhelming results of the last two games. To see an academy gem stepping up to make his mark on the first team is always a positive for fans, and the flying winger will look to remain in contention.
In the games against Birmingham and Plymouth, Fellows completed eight of his 11 attempted duels, attempted six crosses, three dribbles, and drew four fouls from the opposition in just 29 minutes of football. [Sofascore]
He has proved he can be an impact player from the bench to add a direct threat to the Baggies side, but stepping up to play from the start will be a different challenge altogether.
Another academy gem that Corberan might have to call upon in the coming weeks is the 20-year-old defender Caleb Taylor. who the boss claimed would step up in the absence of Semi Ajayi should the latter feature in the Nigeria squad for the African Cup of Nations.
In other West Brom news, the boss was full of praise for what one key player did against Plymouth.