Ipswich Town boss assesses Jeremy Sarmiento following six-month spell with West Brom
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has lauded Jeremy Sarmiento as “game-ready” after his season-long loan spell at West Brom was cut short this month.
The Brighton & Hove Albion loanee joined the Baggies in the summer of 2023 and was expected to stay at The Hawthorns until the end of the season. However, his parent club cut the loan short and sent him out to fellow Championship side Ipswich.
Despite a lack of consistent game time under Carlos Corberan, McKenna is extremely happy with the Tractor Boys’ latest addition to the squad as they attempt to beat West Brom to promotion.
“He had limited minutes at the start and he had an injury in there as well. But throughout December, he had a really good run of games,” McKenna told Ipswich’s official website on Thursday (4 January).
“So we feel he comes to us in a good position physically and with a better understanding of the league than he would have had at the start of the season. So that’s a bonus.
“And I think that’s always one of the biggest things on your checklist for signings in January is players who are game-ready and can hopefully help your group in the short term.”
A disappointing end
It is easy to assume that Baggies fans did not see the fullest extent of Sarmiento’s talent during six months at The Hawthorns. He managed to rack up 21 appearances, scoring two goals against Middlesbrough and Cardiff City.
Corberan will have hoped to get more out of the 21-year-old, with the winger proving to be dangerous when in form. However, Brighton were clearly unhappy with their prospect’s lack of game time and decided on a different avenue.
Although the fans were unable to see the player at 100 per cent, West Brom will get another chance as he is now likely to deputise for Ipswich’s Wes Burns, Nathan Broadhead and Connor Chaplin in the Championship.
They may even see it first-hand when the two sides meet on 10 February at Portman Road. The Baggies won the reverse leg back in November, with the Ecuadorian managing 20 minutes on the pitch.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies are unable to recall Karlan Grant from his loan spell with Cardiff City this January