West Brom defender Paddy McNair. (Credit: Northern Ireland National Team)
West Brom defender Paddy McNair. (Credit: Northern Ireland National Team)
Match

Carlos Corberan to reward Paddy McNair after what he did away from West Brom

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Paddy McNair has played just 61 minutes for West Brom since arriving at The Hawthorns this summer.

The 29-year-old is currently on loan with the Baggies, joining on a six-month deal before linking up with new MLS club San Diego FC, having left Middlesbrough during the recent transfer window.

While Carlos Corberan owes the defender absolutely nothing, given he is set to jet out of the Midlands in a couple of months, he could feel that a first league start for the Baggies is justified.

Kyle Bartley and Semi Ajayi have formed the centre-back partnership so far this season, a duo which has bred success in the backline, pushing Corberan's side to fourth in the Championship table.

However, considering the latter's "strange" ordeal during the international break with Nigeria [Express & Star], getting stuck in a Libyan airport, it could be McNair's time to shine.

Paddy McNair to start for West Brom v Oxford United?

Despite a set of mixed results for Northern Ireland in the last international break, beating Luxembourg before falling to a 1-0 defeat to Bulgaria, this two-week break was far more productive.

McNair played 180 minutes across two games, keeping clean sheets against Belarus and Bulgaria, the latter of which included the Northern Irish slotting five goals away for a hugely comfortable win.

While the centre-back did not manage to get on the scoresheet in either clash, his statistics have done enough talking for him as he returns to The Hawthorns ahead of the Oxford United clash.

McNair maintained 95 per cent and 85 per cent passing accuracies, taking a total of 106 touches (64+42), and completed 100 per cent of his long balls against Belarus [FotMob].

Against Belarus, he won 100 per cent of his ground duels while his aerial duels took priority against Bulgaria, winning 100 per cent of them on Tuesday 15 October.

The 29-year-old also ranks in the top 92 percentile for progressive carries and the top 97 percentile for successful take-ons [FBref], proving his ability as a ball-playing centre-back.

That could be the exact type of figure that Corberan needs as the Baggies face up against Oxford United on Saturday 19 October.

In other West Brom news, Carlos Corberan will be fuming with a transfer decision after Isaac Price makes history.

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Oxford United
Carlos Corberan
Paddy McNair
West Brom
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