West Brom star out for four months as Baggies dealt quadruple injury blow

West Brom are set to be without three of their centre backs for over a month after being hit with a triple injury blow.

Paddy McNair and Semi Ajayi were both recently forced off with injuries in the goalless draw with Cardiff City. McNair lasted only a couple of minutes before being replaced by Callum Styles, whilst Ajayi made way for Mason Holgate.

It was how emerged that both McNair and Ajayi have suffered hamstring injuries, which will rule them out for over a month. Ajayi's injury is worse, as he's expected to be out for 16 weeks, which is four months.

The injury was sustained a few weeks back, and the decision was made to operate. The news comes as a major blow as Ajayi has started all 12 of West Brom’s Championship matches.

“Semi, unfortunately, has suffered a more difficult injury,” said first-team manager Carlos Corberan who was speaking to the official club website.

“It was an action which was an accident. In this action, he has broken his muscle in two parts.

“The best way to manage this injury is with surgery because surgery helps reduce the risk of suffering this type of injury again. 

“There are injuries which affect the tendon in specific areas where you have to have surgery. The surgery delays things by around two weeks, but it also reduces the risk of the injury reoccurring. 

“Returning in about 16 weeks is the approximate time when you have this type of surgery.”

As for McNair, he's out for eight weeks, which is around two months. It is quite possible he might have played his last game for the club, having joined on a half-season loan from San Diego FC. An eight week time frame from now is Christmas day, and so after that there are only two games to come until the New Year.

It’s unsure when McNair is expected to report to the MLS club, but their season begins in mid-February, and so he’ll be expected to report back for pre-season, with his loan expiring on December 31. The 29-year-old has been limited to three appearances, and his outing against Cardiff was the first time he had started a home match.

West Brom will be unable to call upon Kyle Bartley as a replacement, as he had to undergo minor surgery for a knee problem. He's expected to return in around four to six weeks, and so best case scenario he returns against Preston North End, and worst is against Coventry City.

“We are talking about three specific centre-backs who have had injuries at the same time, all within a week,” added Corberan.

“It is what it is and it will be a challenge for us as a team and for individuals too.”

The bad news doesn't stop there as Daryl Dike who was gearing up for a return to action having been sidelined with an Achilles problem, now won't return until the New Year. Dike suffered a separate hamstring issue in training, and now he will have to overcome his latest setback.

“Elsewhere, when Daryl suffered his original injury we hoped he’d be back before Christmas,” Corberan added. The new muscle injury will now mean he will return after Christmas.”