Mikey Johnston fear comes true amid latest West Brom update
Mikey Johnston looks set to miss West Brom’s encounter with Stoke City.
West Brom welcome Stoke City to The Hawthorns on Saturday, well aware of the need to secure three points to lift them out of the relegation zone.
Leicester City’s recent points deduction has given Albion some hope of avoiding the drop, but that will still hinge on their ability to pick up many more wins than they have managed so far under Eric Ramsay.
Johnston will be crucial to that, and the latest update on the Republic of Ireland international will serve as a major blow for the Baggies’ chances of getting anything out of the game.
West Brom suffer Mikey Johnston injury blow ahead of Stoke clash
Johnston has been the standout star for West Brom this season, and that is showcased by the fact that he has the most assists in the Championship.
The 26-year-old has nine so far this season, with Ryan Giles and Marcelino Nunez both behind him in the assist table with eight.
However, the chances of him adding to that this weekend are looking incredibly slim, with Steve Hermon revealing via X that Johnston is a doubt with a pubis muscle problem, which could prove to be pubalgia.
Krystian Bielik and George Campbell are also set to miss the game, with returns for them expected in March.
Johnston’s absence will be a big blow, and it may force Ramsay into a tactical decision that he may not have wanted to make otherwise.
Eric Ramsay could be forced into handing out Albion debut
With Samuel Iling-Junior having been recalled by Aston Villa, there aren’t many options to replace Johnston if he is to be absent.
Jed Wallace is one option, and the other is Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, who arrived at The Hawthorns in the winter, ironically from Aston Villa.
Jimoh’s last appearance in senior football was at the back end of January, when he was a 66th-minute substitute in Aston Villa’s 3-2 win over Salzburg.
The 19-year-old is at his best when used on the left side of the attack, but on this occasion, West Brom may look to utilise him on the right, which is where Johnston usually features.