Carlos Corberan set to share West Brom injury update on Kyle Bartley ahead of Sunderland clash
Carlos Corberan is set to share an update on Kyle Bartley’s West Brom availability for Saturday’s clash against Sunderland on Wednesday afternoon, according to Birmingham Live.
The Senior Baggies defender missed the defeat to Leicester City on Saturday (2 December) having completed 90 minutes in the week at Cardiff City.
Corberan confirmed after the Leicester game that he’d felt tightness in his hamstring after the Cardiff win and he was left out of the clash with the Foxes as more of a precaution.
It was reported before the game against the Championship leaders that Bartley should be okay in time for the Sunderland game, and Birmingham Live shared (6 December) that the Spaniard will be able to shed some light on the defender’s fitness in his press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Should be fine
Corberan confirmed after the Leicester City game, that Bartley’s withdrawal last weekend was only a precaution which means he should be fit for Saturday’s game against a managerless Black Cats.
West Brom have been blighted by injuries and knocks all season and it’s somewhat hampered their general progress so far this campaign, despite sitting pretty in the play-off places.
However, the Baggies have seen players like Josh Maja, John Swift, Semi Ajayi and Jeremy Sarmiento return from injury spells over the past couple weeks which certainly gives Corberan much-needed strength in depth heading into a busy December and Christmas fixture list.
Bartley is just as important and pivotal as the aforementioned names as his leadership, experience and know-how at this level could end up providing the edge West Brom need to successfully navigate their play-off aspirations come May.
And in another hugely important clash on Saturday, Bartley’s quality and experience will desperately be needed at the heart of the West Brom back line, especially after the way they threw away a crucial point against Leicester City last time out.
In other West Brom news, the doomsday clock doesn’t care for Albion’s Championship form as it ticks down towards a deadline.