West Brom: Reyes Cleary path to first-team stardom at The Hawthorns now uncertain after brand new January transfers
West Brom academy starlet Reyes Cleary may be set to walk an unwanted long path to first-team football after recent transfer business at The Hawthorns.
Despite the financial difficulties at the club right now, Carlos Corberan has still managed to complete two new signings through the doors this month.
Bristol City’s Andreas Weimann and West Ham wonder Callum Marshall have both been brought on temporary loan deals to bolster West Brom’s attacking ranks for the Championship promotion race.
Both additions mean Corberan is well stocked in attack despite the ongoing injury crisis he’s been suffered in recent months with Weimann and Marshall joining the likes of Brandon Thomas-Asante, Daryl Dike and Josh Maja – the latter two of which are currently out injured.
Marshall and Weimann’s additions make perfect sense given all that’s gone on at the club but it isn’t particularly great news for Albion academy wonder Cleary who is now facing the dreaded sight of players stealing his anticipated first-team thunder.
Manager Carlos Corberan confirmed the young forward has suffered another hamstring issue, albeit to the other leg this time, after appearing in an under-21s cup game vs Darlaston Town and won’t be back in contention until the spring, calling it “difficult to accept”.
Express & Star reported on 15 December that the 19-year-old was potentially in line for a move after his previous injury against Stourbridge in April, which forced him out until well into the current season, had prevented a summer departure, but it again will be impossible this month given he’s now out until April again.
Corberan had previously indicated another attempted loan would be on the cards in January before the injury [via Birmingham Live] in order to aid his development and experience but all hope of that took a huge setback with his ongoing issue.
The 19-year-old forward was an instant hit during the 2022/23 campaign, scoring 19 goals for Richard Beale’s PL2 side as well as making five appearances across three different competitions for Carlos Corberan’s men.
As the Baggies geared up for their Championship fixture against Plymouth Argyle on 21 October, the young striker was spotted training alongside defender Cédric Kipré on 19 October and even appeared on the bench for the first time in the 2-0 win against Coventry City [Transfermarkt] which suggested Corberan certainly had him in his thinking for the first-team.
If there was any hope of the young forward stepping into the gaps left by Maja and Matt Phillips’ long-term injury absences and reaching his eagerly anticipated first-team stardom, it was then.
Now, Cleary will have to watch from the treatment table as another attacking gem takes his shine.
While both Marshall and Weimann’s loans are only temporary, it’s unlikely the Albion youngster will be ready for first-team action soon after his return.
A path to first-team stardom at The Hawthorns has now unfortunately taken a back seat for Cleary, especially if West Brom manage to make it into the Premier League promised land next season.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies are now extremely keen on securing a deal for a Premier League striker in January who made headlines this season.
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