West Brom predicted XI v QPR – Three new signings start, Jed Wallace out
Carlos Corberan has a number of attacking options at his disposal as West Brom face QPR on 10 August in their first game of the new Championship season.
Albion begin the new campaign with a trip to Loftus Road on Saturday having finished fifth last season, losing 3-1 on aggregate to eventually-promoted Southampton in the play-off semi-finals.
Corberan’s side have won just one of their six pre-season matches – against League One’s Peterborough United – but that will mean nothing once the first whistle goes at Loftus Road.
Albion have lost several key players this summer with Okay Yokuslu, Conor Townsend and Brandon Thomas-Asante all departing in the last week, but that’s been offset with some positive incomings.
Particularly in recent days, some exciting new faces have arrived at the Hawthorns, including left-back Gianluca Frabotta from Juventus, Aston Villa loanee Lewis Dobbin, and Championship veteran Paddy McNair.
Ousmane Diakite, Joe Wildsmith and Devante Cole have all arrived on free transfers too, and with giant Norwegian defender Torbjorn Heggem also signed, Corberan’s new-look squad is finally taking shape.
West Brom News predicts the starting line-up that Corberan will select ahead of Albion’s season opener, with three of those new signings in the XI at Loftus Road.
Torbjorn Heggem set for immediate West Brom start v QPR
There’ll likely be no surprises between the sticks or in the centre of defence at Loftus Road this Saturday, with clean-sheet magnet Alex Palmer in goal after establishing himself as number one last season.
Tobjorn Heggem’s arrival from Swedish side IF Brommapojkarna gives Corberan the option of starting him in the middle, but the Spaniard will likely go with the partnership of Kyle Bartley and Semi Ajayi.
Although billed as a replacement for last season’s star man Cedric Kipre, Heggem has been used at left-back in pre-season due to Townsend and Zac Ashworth’s departures leaving Corberan short of options.
And despite Frabotta arriving from Juventus, his deal still being subject to international clearance [club website] leaves Heggem as the only real choice at left-back, with Darnell Furlong lining up on the right-hand side.
West Brom must utilise loan transfers straight away v QPR
The departure of Yokuslu to Trabzonspor, as well as Yann M’Vila and Nathaniel Chalobah also leaving at the end of their contracts, also leaves Albion short in defensive midfield despite Diakite’s signing.
Alex Mowatt’s signing of a new contract suggests he’ll be a nailed-on starter once again, and despite Diakite showing promise, it’s loanee Paddy McNair who should start alongside the Englishman.
McNair is on loan from San Diego FC until January, and given he can happily drop into the back four if needed, Corberan could go with the tried-and-tested option over Diakite for the Baggies’ first match.
Further forward, John Swift is a shoo-in with Grady Diangana and captain Jed Wallace both injury risks, and he’ll operate at number 10 with academy product Tom Fellows now a regular starter out wide.
On the opposite flank, on-loan Premier League winger Lewis Dobbin should be the key choice Corberan makes ahead of the clash at Loftus Road, despite the Aston Villa man only arriving on 6 August.
Dobbin has the ability to have a similar impact to the excellent Mikey Johnston last season, and with Josh Maja the obvious choice to lead the line up front, the two could soon strike up a prolific partnership.
In other West Brom news, tributes have been paid following the passing of former Baggies player and coach Craig Shakespeare.
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