Brandon Thomas-Asante axed, Jayson Molumby and Semi Ajayi recalled – West Brom predicted XI v Southampton
Brandon Thomas-Asante could be set for another axe from the West Brom starting lineup for the game against Southampton on Saturday (11 November).
The 24-year-old certainly hasn’t enjoyed the best of form, scoring just three goals from his 13 Championship appearances so far this campaign (WhoScored) and could be the victim of a crucial tweak from Carlos Corberan for the intriguing Championship encounter at St Mary’s.
The Spaniard may well be tempted to return to the rigid 3-5-2 formation which proved successful in the 2-0 against Coventry City on 30 October and that means Thomas-Asante may well be dropped and a recall handed to rarely-seen midfielder Jayson Molumby
Corberan may well be set to make another two changes with Semi Ajayi stepping in for the injured Kyle Bartley who was confirmed to be having a scan of a suspected shoulder injury (5 November).
And centre-back Erik Pieters who sat out the 3-1 win over Hull City should return to the team as Corberan aims for defensive safety against a resurgent Southampton side.
Alex Palmer should continue in goal on the back of his impressive form this season, having conceded just 15 goals in 15 games and registering seven clean sheets along the way.
After the injury he picked up against QPR proved to be nowhere near as serious as originally feared, Cedric Kipre will once again start on the right-hand side of the back three and will be joined by Ajayi and Pieters in a much-changed but solid unit at the back.
Corberan has made some slight alterations to his backline during this campaign and one of those came against Coventry when Pipa was handed his Baggies debut but Darnell Furlong returned against Hull City and proved solid again which should hand him a start over the Spaniard.
Matt Phillips has nailed down the place at left wing-back this season and he looks a certainty to keep his spot for the Southampton clash after some stunning individual form, recording two goals and two assists in his last seven appearances for the Baggies [SofaScore].
In midfield, Molumby hasn’t started for the Baggies since September, regularly appearing from the bench since then but Corberan will desperately need his industry and aggression against Russell Martin’s fluid Southampton.
The Spaniard may well have been tempted to start with Nathaniel Chalobah again but the former Watford man was disappointing against Coventry City, which may hand Molumby a start in midfield alongside Okay Yokuslu and Alex Mowatt.
In attack, Brandon Thomas-Asante should be axed for the game after his inconsistencies continued against Hull City with another blank.
The striker barely touched the ball in the game with just 28 touches, winning just three duels and failing with 100% of his three dribbles and 100% of his two shots on target [SofaScore].
As a result, Corberan will more than likely return to the attacking setup which proved successful against Coventry City, with the in-from Grady Diangana partnering Jed Wallace in attack.
Diangana is so far enjoying the form of his life right now, recording two goals and three assists in his last five Championship starts and any hope of West Brom claiming another three impressive points will hinge on the now-undroppable attacker.
In other West Brom news, a football expert has been left stunned after behind-the-scenes news has emerged at Hawthorns over the past few months.