Paddy McNair may never play for West Brom again after what happened v Cardiff City
Paddy McNair picking up a hamstring injury early on against Cardiff City could prove to be his last action in a West Brom shirt given his deal only runs until January.
Barely 33 seconds into Saturday’s (26 October) clash at The Hawthorns, McNair cleared a long ball down-field, clutching his hamstring immediately afterwards and being unable to continue.
Callum Styles came off the bench for the Northern Irishman just four minutes into the eventual 0-0 draw, with the defender clearly extremely frustrated.
Semi Ajayi – who was anything but solid in McNair’s absence – also picked up an injury which forced him off the pitch late on, and that will set alarm bells ringing for Carlos Corberan’s defensive options.
Carlos Corberan must get creative to solve West Brom crisis
McNair arrived at The Hawthorns from new MLS side San Diego FC in the summer transfer window, but with his loan spell only lasting until January, he now faces a race against time to return to fitness.
The 29-year-old was only making his third appearance of the season – and second in the Championship – with Ajayi and Kyle Bartley being Corberan’s preferred centre-back partnership by a distance.
However, after McNair impressed in Bartley’s absence with the Albion captain slowly making his way back from a knee issue, it’s back to square one for Corberan following yet another injury.
Corberan has gone from a full complement of centre-backs to now potentially being without Bartley, Ajayi and McNair for the next few games, leaving a dearth of possible options in defence.
Torbjorn Heggem justified his Norway call-up with a solid display after shifting from left back, but if he or Mason Holgate – finally making his second Baggies debut – go down, Albion’s promotion hopes could be hanging by a thread.
In other West Brom news, Corberan went into detail regarding his discussions with one Albion player on the way back from injury.
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