West Bromwich Albion will finally make their long-awaited return to Championship football tonight, as they travel to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
With the Baggies’ last competitive game being a 2-0 win over Stoke City a month ago today, Carlos Corberan could have a tough task reigniting the momentum which had his team on a three-game winning streak.
That’s because the Black Cats are in similarly impressive form, having already returned to action in the league with a comprehensive win over Millwall last weekend. This marked a third win for Tony Mowbray’s side in their last four Championship games.
With the gap between the Baggies’ last fixture and tonight being so vast, however, Corberan will likely boast a near-clean bill of health for this clash.
With that in mind, here’s the West Brom XI that we’re predicting for this all-important game on Wearside…
It is expected that there will be just two changes from the West Brom side that cruised to victory over Stoke on 12 November.
Alex Palmer will likely remain in between the sticks, as he has played a vital role in maintaining clean sheets across their recent upturn in form.
It is also expected that Corberan will maintain the same back four for similar reasons. Darnell Furlong and Conor Townsend will therefore occupy the flanks, whilst youth and experience merge in central defence as Dara O’Shea partners Kyle Bartley.
Given the unprecedented nature of this month-long break, Jake Livermore could return to add experience in the place of Jayson Molumby in midfield, with the Irishman having been one of Albion’s more subdued performers against Stoke. Livermore will likely feature alongside Okay Yokuslu.
Would you start Dike today?
Despite having somewhat underperformed this season, the attacking outlet at the Baggies’ disposal has now had a full month to adapt to the methods of the new coach on the training field. Therefore, fans can surely expect a more free-flowing performance than their dogged displays to snatch narrow wins.
John Swift will continue in the middle of the attacking midfield three, flanked by Jed Wallace and Matt Phillips.
At centre-forward, considering Daryl Dike’s return from injury as the World Cup began, an extra month of rehabilitation could see him fit enough for a start given the form of his competition up front. Both Brandon Thomas-Asante and Karlan Grant have disappointed this term, netting just six league goals between them, although the former scored in their most recent win.
Corberan could start the American “beast” Dike – as dubbed by Nigel Quashie – and then bring him off after he has reached his physical limit. The West Brom boss could be cautious about overworking the 22-year-old, who has suffered various injuries since his move to The Hawthorns last January.
