Gary Neville shares why West Brom left him 'devastated' four years ago

Gary Neville has been full of praise for former West Bromwich Albion forward Brandon Thomas-Asante.

The Ghana international left for Coventry City in 2024, after a hit-and-miss spell at The Hawthorns.

In 78 Albion appearances, the 27-year-old scored 21 times, with 18 of these coming in the Championship as the Baggies battled for the playoffs.

With a record of a goal every 3.7 matches, he was hardly consistent in the Black Country.

However, despite constant debates regarding whether he was the right man for the Midlanders, he did remain a threat.

After impressing at the World Cup for Ghana, former Manchester United full-back Neville has piled the praise on the Coventry man.

Gary Neville delighted for Brandon Thomas-Asante

Since joining Coventry in 2024, Thomas-Asante has a similar goal record with just one less appearance.

Alongside his 19 goals in 77, though, he has racked up more assists, with seven compared to two.

The most prosperous time of his career thus far came with Salford City, where he scored 30 and laid on 13 in 126 appearances.

Owner Neville was full of praise for the forward after his recent exploits for Ghana.

"I love Brandon," said Neville, speaking on the latest episode of Stick to Football.

"He deserves it. He went to West Brom, then to Coventry where he will be in the Premier League next year, playing for Ghana in a World Cup.

"The year that we sold him, I remember going on holiday to Greece. We had started the season, and he scored something like five or six in eight, he was on fire, ripping up teams. He came back over pre-season as a different player."

On his move to West Brom, he said: "I was happy for him, but I was devastated, because I think if we kept him, we would have gone up that year."

Is Thomas-Asante ready for the Premier League?

After a hit-and-miss spell at The Hawthorns, Baggies fans may be questioning whether Thomas-Asante is a player ready for the Premier League.

However, as mentioned by Neville, he is someone who has been on a fantastic journey.

At both Albion and Coventry, he has never been the most prolific goalscorer.

However, he is a more than reliable threat at Championship level - and is someone that could have impressed in the front two deployed by James Morrison at the back end of last season.

The Premier League may be a step, but his energy and presence in the final third could see him adapt nicely to the division.