‘Controversial’ benching made as Carlos Corberan starts ‘difference maker’ - West Brom predicted XI vs Watford

West Brom make the trip south to take on fellow promotion hopefuls Watford away in the Championship on Sunday afternoon.

Albion will be keen to extend their unbeaten streak to 13 matches following two victories and 10 draws in their last dozen outings. It was a return to winning ways midweek as the Baggies saw off Frank Lampard’s Coventry City by two goals to nil, but Watford provide a bigger challenge.

The Hornets, direct rivals in the top-six fight, are on an five-match unbeaten run of their own. It’s bound to be a cracker at Vicarage Road as both teams seek to boost their hopes of qualifying for this season’s play-offs.

Corberan would usually keep the same lineup after a victory but concerns over Josh Maja’s fitness mean a change in attack is likely this weekend. There could be some adjustments in midfield and central defence, too, as Corberan manages the minutes of important players.

With that in mind, here’s the Albion XI we reckon will take on Watford.

West Brom predicted lineup vs Watford

GK - Alex Palmer: The goalkeeper has started the new season strongly, keeping clean sheets in 10 of the 20 Championship matches so far.

RB - Darnell Furlong: One of the first names on the team sheet, Furlong has only ever missed one game under Corberan - away at Sunderland in November.

CB - Mason Holgate: The Everton loanee is likely to start again as Kyle Bartley is carrying an issue and needs to have his minutes managed.

CB - Torbjorn Heggem: A goalscorer two weeks ago, Heggem has towered above many of his Albion teammates this term - especially for consistency.

LB - Callum Styles: The versatile defender hasn’t had the best last couple of games but his ability to progress attacks from deep cannot be ignored.

CM - Uros Racic: It’s a difficult call between Racic and Jayson Molumby, but we reckon the former will get a chance in the XI after two successive benchings.

CM - Alex Mowatt: Corberan’s first choice in midfield, Mowatt scored Albion’s first goal against Coventry in a wonderful display all round.

RM - Tom Fellows: The England Under-21 international is without doubt one of the Baggies’ most dangerous players. He causes defenders nightmares.

LM - Mikey Johnston: Signed for £3million, Johnston is yet to set the world alight but he’s certainly got talent. Grady Diangana, meanwhile, has suffered a setback.

CAM - John Swift: A difference maker in the second half of the Coventry win, Swift has impressed Corberan. It’s controversial to bench Josh Maja, but the top scorer is jaded and needs a rest.

ST - Karlan Grant: On the back of a brilliant solo goal, Grant is full of confidence and is profiting from playing centrally rather than out wide.