Nat Phillips ruled out of West Brom showdown vs Oxford United – This is why
Nat Phillips hasn’t been included in West Brom’s matchday squad against Oxford United on Saturday due to injury.
As confirmed via West Brom‘s official X account on Saturday, Phillips misses out against Oxford on Saturday entirely through what has been described as a “thigh injury”.
Phillips played 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Charlton last time out, but now looks set for a period on the sidelines with what could be a troublesome problem.
James Morrison has brought Krystian Bielik into the starting lineup at the Kassam Stadium in place of Phillips, whilst Ousmane Diakite drops out in place of Jed Wallace.
Nat Phillips injury potentially saves Charlie Taylor place
Morrison may have wanted to reshuffle his centre-back options for Oxford anyway, but this latest Phillips injury revelation has perhaps forced him to deviate from his original plan.
Charlie Taylor has been putting in some poor performances in the heart of Albion’s defence in recent weeks, and hasn’t really provided that calming, veteran presence that Baggies fans hoped he would this term.
The 32-year-old joined on a season-long loan deal from Southampton in this season’s summer transfer window, and has bags of Championship and Premier League experience on his CV.
However, age and a lack of gametime over the last few years may now be starting to catch up with him, and so had Phillips remained injury-free, Taylor may well not have featured in Morrison’s side against Oxford.
West Brom have to capitalise on Norwich City favour
Ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off between West Brom and Oxford, Albion have been handed a significant boost down at the bottom of the Championship.
22nd-placed Leicester were at home to Norwich in one of the early kick-offs, but Gary Rowett’s side have been beaten 2-0 by the in-form Canaries.
As such, that leaves the Baggies with the opportunity to pull four points clear of the Foxes with a win over Oxford at the Kassam Stadium, whilst further plunging the U’s into deeper trouble as well.
That’s the kind of chance that Albion can’t afford to waste if they are to get out of this relegation battle they find themselves in, and so the pressure is now firmly on Morrison’s men to deliver a much-needed win.
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