Nat Phillips shares clear West Brom goal ahead of Derby County reunion
Nat Phillips has wasted no time in highlighting his main goal at West Brom this season.
The centre back is still very early into his stint with the Black Country outfit, but he has already caught the eye with some impressive performances in the Championship.
Phillips joined West Brom for a fee that could potentially reach as high as £3million, but he has already made that look like a bargain with some of his early displays for the Baggies.
He has been central to his side’s excellent start to the season under Ryan Mason, and he has now made it perfectly clear as to what he hopes to achieve from the season.
Nat Phillips shares West Brom promotion ambition before Derby clash
Phillips already looks like one of West Brom’s best signings of the summer, and there are encouraging signs regarding his partnership with Chris Mepham at the heart of the defence.
The pair played alongside each other in Albion colours for the first time in the recent win over Stoke, when they both defended manfully to secure a clean sheet away from home, after Phillips’ goal had given them an early lead.
This weekend sees the 28-year-old line up against Derby County, with whom he spent time during a loan spell last season.
- Phillips made 33 appearances for the Rams during his loan stint last term
- He has previously had experience in both the English and Scottish top flights
- Phillips is under contract in B71 until the summer of 2028
Phillips will reunite with several of his former teammates at The Hawthorns on Saturday, and he has clearly outlined his new team’s ambitions for the season ahead of the game.
“I don’t think it’s a secret, but that (promotion) is the goal,” the defender said, via the Express and Star.
“But it is very early in the season, so we need to carry on as we have been doing and keep up the good work.”
“My goal is to get promoted, however that may be. So the standards that we need to meet are high.
“In the moments where things have got tough, so far this season, we’ve stood up to the challenge and stood tall, so long it may not continue.”
Nat Phillips to play a crucial role for the Baggies
Phillips will be even more crucial to West Brom in the aftermath of Torbjorn Heggem’s departure, as a strong defensive record will be crucial to them realising those promotion ambitions.
| Stats | Albion Total | League Rank |
| Clean Sheets | 2 | =2nd |
| Goals Conceded | 3 | =3rd |
| xG Conceded | 4.6 | 9th |
| Clearances per Match | 35.5 | =3rd |
| Successful Tackles per Match | 11 | 8th |
Only the Championship’s top four teams shipped fewer than the 47 goals that Albion conceded in the league last term, and if they can replicate a similarly strong record this time around, then it will surely see them firmly within the fight to go up.
Phillips has played every single minute of league action so far this term, and has already played a part in two clean sheets from the Baggies’ opening four games.
The win over Stoke before the international break was a particularly impressive example of their defensive fortitude, and if they can continue that across the full season, they will surely be in the upper echelons of the table.
With that in mind, the former Liverpool man could have a huge say in whether that goal is achieved.
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