‘Opinion-splitting' defensive choice as John Swift changes role - West Brom predicted XI vs Coventry City

A new era dawns for West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Friday evening as the Baggies host fellow play-off hopefuls Coventry City in the Sky Bet Championship.

Taking on the first game since Shilen Patel officially completed the £60 million purchase of 87.8 per cent of the football club, West Brom will be keen to impress the new owner. Patel believes Carlos Corberan is the man to take Albion forward, with an expectation of finishing in the top six this season.

Beating Coventry this Friday will go a long way in achieving that goal as the Sky Blues, down in ninth, could drop to eight points below West Brom. A victory for the visitors would allow them to move to within two points, however, bringing yet another team right into the battle.

Not only would three points for Albion be important in increasing the gap to Coventry, but it would also apply heaps of pressure on the likes of Hull City, Norwich City and Preston North End. Those three clubs all play on Saturday, with Hull and Preston facing one another.

Corberan has a few selection dilemmas ahead of Friday night's match. The Spaniard is now spoilt for choice at centre back but there are no natural strikers available following the injuries to Brandon Thomas-Asante, Daryl Dike and Josh Maja.

West Brom predicted lineup vs Coventry

Here are the 11 players we predict Corberan will start against the Sky Blues, with brief explanations for every inclusion.

GK - Alex Palmer

Palmer is conceding roughly one goal a game on average, which is rather decent in the Championship. The goalkeeper is undoubtedly ahead of Josh Griffiths in the hierarchy.

RB - Darnell Furlong

Furlong scored Albion’s equaliser away at Hull and it was deserved as he played well at both ends of the field. That has been the case for much of this campaign, too.

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CB - Cedric Kipre

Kipre has been a standout player for the Baggies this term in the context of the entire squad, not just the defence. There’s no wonder why Premier League teams are sniffing around.

CB - Erik Pieters

As opinion-dividing as it is to not start either Semi Ajayi or Kyle Bartley with them both back fit, Pieters should play again as he’s been excellent for a few weeks now and deserves his spot.

LB - Conor Townsend

Townsend is effectively guaranteed to start at left-back when Pieters is in the centre. Even when Pieters isn’t, Townsend is ahead in the pecking order.

CM - Okay Yokuslu

The Turkey international made a decent return to the XI away at Hull after being benched for the win at Plymouth. Albion look far more composed when Yokuslu is there to cover.

CM - Alex Mowatt

Mowatt has been excellent in the number eight role as Yokuslu’s partner this season. Corberan values the former Middlesbrough man’s composure in possession.

RM - Tom Fellows

Fellows, who scored at Plymouth recently, has been in and out of the starting lineup but deserves to start as he offers great directness. His pace and flair work in abundance. He’s a good finisher as well.

LM - Mikey Johnston

Johnston scored a wonderful goal at Plymouth and impressed again at Hull. Albion fans are already taking to the Celtic loanee, who appears to have locked down a spot in the XI.

CAM - Jed Wallace

Wallace has often moved central when Fellows has played and that could continue here. The skipper’s vision is vital to West Brom’s success creating chances. He also wasn’t great as an out-and-out striker against Hull.

ST - John Swift

Swift has more often played as a number 10 or wide attacking midfielder this season but he could begin starting as a striker or a false nine, a little like he did at the start of the campaign. This is due to injury issues mounting up front.