West Brom ace Grady Diangana to miss up to five games after DR Congo announce AFCON squad
Grady Diangana will miss up to five games for West Brom after he was named in DR Congo’s confirmed squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations, as shared by Birmingham World.
The website shared the confirmed squad list on 27 December, as Diangana will miss three Championship clashes with Blackburn Rovers (13 January), Norwich City (20 January) and Plymouth Argyle (27 January) while he competes in the group stage.
Should DR Congo progress from their group, Albion could see the winger miss further games against both Birmingham City (3 February) and Ipswich Town (10 February).
A blow, but an expected one
The news will come as a blow to Carlos Corberan and his team after Diagana’s increased influence this season, but it will not have come as a surprise given the role the winger plays for his national team as one of the most recognisable and important members of the team.
Diangana has featured in each of the Baggies’ last 17 Championship games, providing four goals and four assists across a total of 19 West Brom appearances so far this season, including an assist last time out in the 1-0 win against Norwich at The Hawthorns.
Corberan has been full of praise for the winger and the part he has played in a season which has otherwise been blighted by injury issues, stepping up to fill gaps left by his injured teammates.
Missing Diangana for a minimum of three games will be a blow to the squad depth under Corberan, and with the likes of Semi Ajayi also expected to be called up for Nigeria ahead of AFCON, they will need to find a way to cope with the reduced depth.
In other West Brom news, a doctor has shared a new injury update on one Albion star.