Steve Bruce faces his first game in charge of West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday evening when the Baggies travel to the ever-improving Sheffield United.
Bruce, who signed an 18-month-deal at the Hawthorns last week, will be looking to change for fortunes of Albion and quickly in an attempt to keep their slim hopes of automatic promotion back to the Premier League alive.
One of the most telling decisions the new manager will make at Bramall Lane will come before a ball is kicked.
Who will make his first eleven? Will a change in system be introduced straight away? Will Sam Johnstone, as presumed, come straight back into the team as number one?
Whatever his first team is, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what we’ll see in the long-run but it will give us a good idea about the kind of ideas he has been trying to implement during his first week in charge.
Bruce has rarely strayed away from formations that don’t have four at the back in his career and so that, off the bat, will be a change to what has been the norm this season so far at Albion.
Here’s the line-up we believe the new man will select for Wednesday’s fixture.
1. GK - Sam Johnstone
The England international was dropped completely for the final two games of Valerien Ismael’s tenure due to an ‘internal issue’. I don’t see anyway he doesn’t return to the XI under Steve Bruce.
2. RB - Darnell Furlong
Furlong to play on the right of a flat back four. Photo: Michael Steele
3. CB - Matthew Clarke
The battle for the two central defender spots will be an interesting one. This is pure guesswork but Matt Clarke would get the nod for me.
4. CB - Semi Ajayi
Fresh off the back of his international appearances at AFCON, Ajayi to take the other spot.