West Brom now face Brandon Thomas-Asante AFCON blow after international development
Brandon Thomas-Asante has been included in the provisional Ghana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after the West Brom striker naturalised to the nation, according to Owuraku Ampofo.
The 3 Sports GH journalist reported via Twitter on 20 December that the England-born Baggies forward has been followed for some time by the Black Stars technical team and is now in line for a call up to the international tournament, which kicks off on 13 January and ends on 11 February in the New Year.
The news is a potentially major blow to Carlos Corberan who is already struggling for attacking options after Josh Maja and Matt Phillips were both ruled out for five months after surgery, and with Daryl Dike still yet to return from his own long-term injury.
Ampofo wrote: “Brandon Thomas-Asante, who was born in England, has naturalized for Ghana. The 24yo has 7 goals and 2 assists in all comps. this season.
“The Ghana technical team has been following the West Brom striker for a while and he has been included in the provisional list for the AFCON.”
Never ends
On a personal level this move could be a very positive one for Thomas-Asante if he now has the chance for a top-level international career.
But the timing of it could hardly be worse from a West Brom point of view amid a major injury crisis in the forward positions at The Hawthorns.
The Baggies strike force has been blighted by incredibly bad luck, with all of Dike, Phillips and Maja ruled out with multiple long-term issues each in recent months.
Thomas-Asante has been the exception to that as he has missed just two Championship fixtures so far this term while West Brom have got themselves firmly in the play-off race.
While his six goals and two assists could perhaps be better it is still production Corberan can scarcely afford to be deprived of, and would hand the manager a selection headache just in terms of the shape of his side.
If the former Salford City striker does head to AFCON in the next few weeks then it only heightens the hopes that a takeover might get over the line in the same sort of timeframe to allow the Albion to look at possible additions in January.
In other West Brom news, new contract talks for an “excellent” Baggies as are in the balance amid takeover uncertainty.