Semi Ajayi hands Carlos Corberan West Brom starting XI headache
Semi Ajayi hands Carlos Corberan West Brom starting XI headache
Match

West Brom: Carlos Corberan handed starting XI headache by 'calm and composed' Semi Ajayi

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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Carlos Corberan's selection in defence has been difficult to anticipate this season, with Cedric Kipre, Kyle Bartley, Erik Pieters and Semi Ajayi all being handed minutes for West Brom.

Of course, the full-back positions pick themselves, with Conor Townsend and Darnell Furlong impressing throughout the campaign, but the centre-back spots are much harder to predict.

Ajayi, 30, has been in and out of the side at The Hawthorns for the majority of this season, making nine Championship starts to date, and coming on as a substitute in 13 more.

Semi Ajayi impresses on international duty with Nigeria

Having joined the Baggies in the summer of 2019, experiencing the highs and lows of Premier League and Championship football, Ajayi has made 157 appearances.

Despite failing down the pecking order at The Hawthorns this season, it appears that the Nigerian is still fully fit and ready to play 90 minutes, having starred in the Super Eagles' 2-1 friendly win over Ghana on Friday 22 March.

Following the game, Allnigeriasoccer.com lauded the centre-back for his display, giving him a 7/10 rating amid a "calm and collected" performance, suggesting he "didn't put a foot wrong".

Winning several aerial battles, and dealing against the likes of Antoine Semenyo, Andre Ayew and Ernest Nuamah, Corberan may need to rethink his starting XI ahead of West Brom's clash with Millwall on Friday 29 March.

West Brom aiming for Premier League promotion via dreaded playoffs

Though the Baggies currently sit in the Championship playoff spots, in fifth place above Norwich City, there is still a lot of work left to do if West Brom want to battle for Premier League promotion.

Matches against Sunderland and Leicester City remain, which could have a detrimental effect on their league campaign. Ajayi's experience and wisdom would add more composure to the backline.

It is certainly a difficult call for Corberan, who will not want to make many changes, having lost just one Championship match in the last 10. But the addition of the Nigeria international could be a masterstroke.

In other West Brom news, a £1.58billion claim has emerged as Shilen Patel completes the takeover to become the new Baggies chairman.

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West Bromwich Albion
Semi Ajayi
Carlos Corberan
Nigeria
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