View: Three changes on the cards for Boxing Day clash - West Brom predicted XI v Barnsley

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23 Dec 2019, 11:10 am

Slaven Bilic has shown a tendency to switch up his West Brom starting line-up when he is faced with more than one fixture in a week.

Albion just about managed to earn a point against Brentford on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run to 13 matches but with a game coming up on Boxing Day on Thursday, Bilic is unlikely to stick with the same starting 11.

West Brom travel to Barnsley for their Boxing Day fixture this year and is predicted that Bilic will make three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Brentford.

Conor Townsend, Filip Krovinovic and Charlie Austin could come in to play for the Baggies with Nathan Ferguson, Matheus Pereira and Hal Robson-Kanu being rested.

Bilic made similar changes for the 1-1 draw at Wigan earlier this month so this is how Albion could line-up at Oakwell this week.

Sam Johnstone is expected to start in goals behind a back-four of Darnell Furlong, Semi Ajayi, Kyle Bartley and Townsend.

Bartley went off injured on Saturday but there is yet to be an update on his fitness. It is predicted that he will start if fit but if he isn't then either Ahmed Hegazi or Dara O'Shea will replace him.

Jake Livermore and Romaine Sawyers are likely to be Bilic's two central midfield starters with Matt Phillips on the right-wing, Kyle Edwards on the left and Krovinovic in the number 10 spot.

Austin has scored six goals in his last six appearances for West Brom and is likely to start at Barnsley so that Robson-Kanu can be rested.

In other West Brom news, there could be a January exit on the cards for one frustrated senior player at The Hawthorns.

West Bromwich Albion