West Brom issue several injury updates ahead of Watford trip - as defensive setback detailed
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West Bromwich Albion will be aiming to cut out mistakes from their game following their draw with Blackburn Rovers when they take on Watford on Monday. They face the Hornets at Vicarage Road having conceded a late equaliser on Wednesday evening leaving them two points away from the play-off positions.
The Baggies have endured somewhat of a rough patch lately, winning just one of their last five matches. Prior to that, manager Carlos Corberan had enjoyed a storming start to life in the Midlands, helping Albion off the bottom of the league and into top six contention.
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Hide AdMeanwhile, Watford, managed by promotion-winning former Baggies boss Slaven Bilic, have their hands clasped on a play-off spot – sitting four places above Albion. They haven’t won any of their last five Championship games, drawing four of them.
However, the Hornets will feel unlucky not to have beaten top-of-the-league Burnley last time out, as Michael Obafemi’s added time equaliser ensured Vincent Kompany’s side traveled back to Lancashire with a point. Bilic’s side will hope to avoid another stalemate in this one.
What is the injury news ahead of West Brom’s away match against Watford?
Defender Kyle Bartley will miss the trip to Hertfordshire after Corberan confirmed he will be out for another five or six weeks following a scan on a quadriceps injury. The former Leeds United, Rangers and Swansea City man hasn’t featured since the World Cup break.
No further news has been reported on Matt Phillips, who is still set to miss the majority of the Championship campaign, also with a quadriceps injury. The winger picked up the blow during Albion’s 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round replay victory over Chesterfield.
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Hide AdIt’s unknown whether Tom Rogic will feature, after missing the Blackburn with a hamstring issue. The Australian hasn’t been in the matchday squad for any of their games so far this month.
Nathaniel Chalobah was substituted in the 52nd minute of Wednesday night’s draw after suffering a knock to his knee. It’s an injury that Corberan won’t be sweating about, as he told Express and Star post-match.
“I didn’t talk with the doctor at the end, but it doesn’t look like an injury,” said Corberan.
“He received a kick and it was on the nerve. He couldn’t find the mobility, and he was having a pain which didn’t allow him to keep going.
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Hide Ad“He was uncomfortable in the last 10 minutes of the first half, we asked him in the rest time if he can keep playing but he couldn’t manage the pain he had in the knee.”
Long-term absentee Kean Bryan is still yet to feature under the new boss and is unlikely to return before the end of the season. The former Sheffield United and Man City man’s contract expires in the summer.
As for Watford, Tom Cleverley has been confirmed to be out for eight weeks with a thigh injury. Fellow midfielders Ken Sema and Imran Louza are set to keep their place in the matchday squad after getting through the Burnley game unscathed.
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