Ian Poveda game time claim emerges as West Brom eye new transfer
Ian Poveda’s lack of game time last season would mean he will not play 90 minutes regularly for West Brom in the initial weeks if he moves to the Hawthorns, according to Dr Rajpal Brar.
The injury expert claims that the 24-year-old winger has some risk of facing a setback because he did not feature regularly in the 2023/24 season for Leeds United as well as on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.
With him now being available as a free agent this summer, Mirror journalist Darren Witcoop reported on 8 June that the Baggies want to sign the two-cap Colombia international.
Amid Poveda’s links with a transfer to The Hawthorns, injury expert Dr Brar – who is a physical therapy specialist and sports scientist – has told West Brom News: “The lack of game time last season was certainly concerning even though he did not miss too many games due to injury.
“The key for West Brom or any club signing him will be bedding him in gradually and methodically due to that lack of game time so a cautious approach here is what they’ll look to take.
“That process always involves some risk of injury but that’s part and parcel.
“I’d not expect him to play 90 minutes week in and week out for the first month or two.“
Ian Poveda could be the difference-maker for West Brom
Poveda has a decent amount of Premier League experience as well, playing 14 games in the English top flight.
There is an argument that could be made about him being the X-Factor signing that would give Carlos Corberan’s side something different in the final third.
Whether or not the Baggies end up signing him, remains to be seen, but given the fact that he’s available on a free transfer, the risk involved is significantly lower.
In other West Brom news, a first-team player faces a high risk of injury in the 2024/25 campaign.
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