Carlos Corberan could hand Akeel Higgins debut in nine changes – West Brom predicted XI v Aldershot Town
Carlos Corberan is predicted to make nine changes to his West Brom starting XI for their FA Cup third-round clash with Aldershot Town on Sunday 7 January.
The Baggies head into the FA Cup clash off the back of a disappointing 1-0 Championship defeat to Swansea City on New Year’s Day and Corberan is expected to make changes to rest a number of his key players against National League opposition.
Albion are well and truly in the race for the playoff places this season but given the current injury crisis at The Hawthorns, they cannot risk any other senior players being ruled out. Therefore, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Cedric Kipre and Alex Mowatt are all expected to be rested.
Alex Palmer has started all 26 of the Baggies’ Championship matches this season and has been in inspired form, but will likely drop to the bench on Sunday with Joshua Griffts expected to replace him having last featured for West Brom in the Carabao Cup first round.
The entire backline will be rested and rotated to avoid injury, especially as Semi Ajayi jets off to the African Cup of Nations. Kipre and Kyle Bartley will likely be dropped in place of Erik Pieters and Caleb Taylor, with the 20-year-old tipped to make his second start of the campaign.
Having returned from injury to make two cameo appearances from the bench in the last two matches, Adam Reach could make his first start of the campaign at left-back and Pipa will replace Darnell Furlong at right-back.
Both Alex Mowatt and Okay Yokuslu have been in excellent form this season, but their importance to West Brom will see them dropped to the bench. In their place, Nathaniel Chalobah will likely make his first start for the Baggies since November alongside Jayson Molumby in a deeper role.
Only Tom Fellows will maintain his place in the attacking midfield trio having impressed in his first 90-minute-long appearance in South Wales. In the number 10 role vacated by Molumby, Swift could return to the starting XI after remaining on the bench for the defeat to the Swans as he continues to face fitness issues.
On the left wing, Akeel Higgins is likely to make his West Brom debut replacing Grady Diangana as he heads to the AFCON. The 18-year-old has been named on the Baggies bench on four occasions this season and this is the perfect chance for Corberan to start him.
With Thomas-Asante rested and Daryl Dike not expected to be fit and ready to play 90 minutes, Jovan Malcom should lead Albion’s line.
The 21-year-old has returned from his loan with Cheltenham Town and started the Baggies defeat to Stoke in the Carabao Cup so will likely be given another chance to impress Corberan in a Baggies’ shirt.
In other West Brom news, Lewis Cox has revealed that talks surrounding a takeover at The Hawthorns have become “really advanced”