West Brom: Semi Ajayi return desperately needed after what Carlos Corberan said
Semi Ajayi will now return to The Hawthorns following the 2-1 defeat for Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Ivory Coast, and the club need him desperately.
Following an injury blow to Kyle Bartley during the 2-2 draw with Ipswich, which saw him forced off at half-time, Albion have been left short of options in defence, with Nathaniel Chalobah having to fill in for 45 minutes.
Carlos Corberan has spoken about the need for both AFCON stars in Ajayi and Grady Diangana to return as soon as they can to help bolster his squad at the business end of the season.
“They have accepted the international opportunities,” Corberan told the Express & Star [12 February]. “But as soon as they finish they need to come here because the team needs both players right now.
“Hopefully, Semi comes back faster and ready to compete. I cannot tell you how long it (Bartley) can take but right now if you lose two weeks, you lose four games. So even if the injury is two weeks we are talking about four games and a half, that’s the pity for injuries in these games.”
Ajayi’s performance at AFCON drew high praise from Nigerian media as he played a crucial part in the defence which was the foundation of the team and how far they went in the tournament.
His display earned praise from Nigerian news outlet All Nigeria Soccer, who awarded the defender an 8/10 rating and wrote: “Arguably Nigeria’s standout player in the first half.
“The West Brom centre-back put on a good defensive show and made some well-timed challenges, winning most of the duels he contested.”
West Brom desperately need Semi Ajayi after AFCON
His display in the final was not up to scratch by the lofty standards he set throughout the tournament which led to Victor Osimhen dubbing him a “warrior.” He did, however, win two of his three ground duels and two of his four aerial duels, making three clearances in the process. [Sofascore]
The performance in the semi-final over 120 minutes as Nigeria beat South Africa on penalties was significantly better, as displayed by Ajayi’s five tackles, one interception and one clearance.
His duel success was high again, winning 100 per cent of his four aerial duels and six of his seven ground duels in a dominant performance, particularly in the air.
In the quarter-final against Angola, Nigeria were able to make it four straight clean sheets thanks in part to Ajayi’s influence, as he competed in six duels, attempted seven long passes to switch the play, making two clearances and one interception to tidy up at the back.
If he can provide the sort of performances he was giving for Nigeria when he returns to The Hawthorns, Corberan’s defensive concerns will be eased slightly as we await news on Bartley’s recovery.
In other West Brom news, a BBC journalist has shared a brand-new takeover update.
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