Jamaica media reacts to ‘Disaster’ debut from West Brom ace Mason Holgate
Jamaica national media tore apart West Brom defender Mason Holgate after his “disaster” debut in the 1-0 loss against the United States.
The 28-year-old made his senior national bow in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final on Thursday [14 November] and received his marching orders for two yellow card offences.
Ricardo Pepi gave the visitors the lead inside the first five minutes at the National Stadium in Kingston, subsequently securing a slender advantage heading into the return leg on Tuesday [19 November].
However, Holgate stole all the headlines and has been scapegoated for costing his side on the night by Jamaican news outlet Jamaica Gleaner [14 November], writing: “A couple of clumsy challenges spelt disaster for Mason Holgate, who was sent to the showers for the second of those in the 86th.”
Loop Jamaica News [14 November] added further fuel to the fire, berating the defender for foolishly picking up two yellow cards in quick succession, writing: “The Reggae Boyz finished a man short after debutant Mason Holgate was given his second yellow card for pushing Brandon Vazquez in the 86th, 10 minutes after his first for kicking Gianluca Busio.”
Mason Holgate needs to keep his composure for West Brom
Carlos Corberan is facing a defensive injury crisis at The Hawthorns and matters will only become worse if Holgate continues his clumsy international form for West Brom.
Unfortunately for the Baggies, there are no other options to start at centre-back – Semi Ajayi is out for a further three months with a hamstring injury, Paddy McNair is out with a similar issue and Kyle Bartley is also on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Defensive solidity has been a hallmark of West Brom’s early season form and Holgate cannot afford to become a liability in the West Midlands.
He has partnered the “outstanding” Tobjorn Heggem for the past three Championship outings with the Norwegian shifting across from full-back to central defence to ease the lack of depth at centre-back.
However, the Everton loanee desperately needs to impress at The Hawthorns this year, a permanent return to Merseyside is out of the equation, but he still stands a chance of becoming first team regular in the Premier League if aids the Baggies’ cause this year.
Getting himself to be sent-off on his first outing for Jamaica hardly paints him in a good light moving forward, considering his minutes were limited when the squad was at its strongest, he must lay down a statement of intent to Corberan in the coming weeks.
Holgate will need to prove to West Brom that his sending off was merely a flash in the pan rather than a sign of what is to come but the supporters can be forgiven for losing faith in the defender only a few matches into his first-team duties.
In other West Brom news, Irish media react to West Brom ace Jason Molumby’s “brilliant” display against Finland.
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