Don Goodman predicts who’ll start in West Brom midfield for play-off clash v Southampton
Don Goodman says there is no “obvious reason” for Carlos Corberan to recall Yann M’Vila to the starting line-up when West Brom take on Southampton.
The Baggies host Southampton at The Hawthorns on Sunday (12 May) in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final tie.
Corberan has a number of selection calls to make, one of those being in holding midfield, where Alex Mowatt and Okay Yokuslu started in the 3-0 win over Preston North End.
M’Vila started three of the previous four matches, coinciding with a disappointing run of form, and Goodman believes sticking with Mowatt and Yokuslu makes the most sense.
“What you’ve got to take into consideration is that we don’t watch training every day and we don’t know how players are physically and emotionally – it’s been a long hard season,” he told West Brom News.
“But I do think Mowatt and Yokuslu have been a really solid partnership for most of the season, with West Brom fifth for most of it.
“I wouldn’t see an obvious reason to break that up, without being in Carlos Corberan’s mind and understanding exactly what tactics he intends to go with against Southampton.”
Yann M’Vila yet to get going at West Brom
M’Vila was brought in midway through the campaign, but his lack of sharpness due to not playing at all over the previous six months soon told.
The signing made sense as it was an experienced head who, crucially, was available on a free transfer during Albion’s time of need.
While the Frenchman has had some occasional promising moments, there have been no standout displays and he will surely not start v Southampton.
Mowatt and Yokuslu impressed last time out in the morale-boosting win over Preston and must get the nod again for both legs of this huge showdown.
In other West Brom news, Saido Berahino has given an honest assessment of the furore surrounding his Hawthorns exit.
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