West Brom star ruled out v Portsmouth, Mowbray confirms changes to XI
West Brom will be without Kyle Bartley against Portsmouth this weekend, Tony Mowbray has confirmed.
As posted on X by Steve Hermon of BBC WM (24 January), Mowbray has revealed Albion will once again be without the experienced centre-half for the visit of Pompey on Saturday (25 January) while changes to the starting line-up are also expected.
Bartley has been absent since New Year’s Day against Preston and is joined on the sidelines by longer-term injured duo Josh Maja and Daryl Dike.
The Baggies were 3-0 winners last time they met Portsmouth, and will be buoyed by John Mousinho’s side’s poor recent away record.
Hermon shared: “No Kyle Bartley again this weekend for Albion.
“Tony Mowbray revealed to us there could be a couple of changes to this side but he didn’t elaborate.
“Also, Josh Maja has had his operation and Daryl Dike remains on a phased return to training programme.”
West Brom look to get back on track v Portsmouth
West Brom will be confident they can get the required result against a Portsmouth side who have won just once away from home in the league this season.
Pompey have an excellent recent home record but have faltered on the road, while Mowbray will be desperate for his first win back in charge as he takes to the home dugout at The Hawthorns for the first time in nearly 16 years.
The Baggies were beaten by Mowbray’s boyhood club Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium last Tuesday (21 January), a tough one to take given both clubs’ similar top-six ambitions this term.
West Brom miss the likes of Bartley, who has been a staple in their positive defensive performances in the past couple of years, and Maja – whose goalscoring statistics speak for themselves.
The showdown with Pompey will be the final match of January for the Albion, who head to bottom side Plymouth Argyle on 1 February.
In other West Brom news, a Premier League striker whose move to The Hawthorns collapsed is now on his way to a rival Championship club.
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