Carlos Corberan praying over two West Brom players after official announcement
Carlos Corberan said he will “pray” for Torbjorn Heggem and Mason Holgate to return unscathed after both West Brom defenders were called up for international duty.
Speaking to Express & Star (13 November), Corberan said that given Albion’s current injury crisis at the back, he cannot afford for either Heggem or Holgate to return from the break with issues of their own.
The Baggies announced Holgate’s Jamaica call-up on 10 November, as did Norway with Heggem five days prior [NFF, 5 November], as Corberan deals with four first-team defenders currently being out of action.
He said: “Now I need to pray that I don’t suffer injuries to the international players – with Holgate, who is with Jamaica, or with Heggem who goes with his national team.
“It is true we are now in one challenging defensive moment with the bodies we have.
“We have the injury of Paddy [McNair] – we are not going to recover him – [Kyle] Bartley, who will recover soon, Semi [Ajayi], who we are not going to recover, and [Gianluca] Frabotta who we will recover soon.
“We need to keep the same ones and of course add the two back from injury [soon] because they are ones we need.”
Carlos Corberan keen to avoid defensive catastrophe at West Brom
Although the mood is currently a good one at The Hawthorns after Albion snapped an eight-game losing streak to beat Hull City last time out, that will sour significantly if either Heggem or Holgate return injured.
Ajayi and McNair both pulling up with issues in the Baggies’ goalless draw with Cardiff last month was a sign of things to come, with Corberan hinting the duo will both be out for extended spells.
With Bartley also yet to return and fringe left-back Frabotta still on the sidelines, Corberan is fast running through his available options in defence and his worries over further injuries is no surprise.
Youngsters like Deago Nelson may be required to step into the breach should disaster strike over the international break, with Holgate having already been brought in from the cold by Corberan.
The Spaniard will count himself lucky that Heggem has been ever-present so far this season, with his form and versatility earning a Norway call-up, but should the worst happen for Corberan’s star defender, the curtain could fall on Albion’s automatic promotion hopes.
In other West Brom news, Don Goodman has said Albion will outline their ambition with the decision they make on an exit-linked star.
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