Right now at the Hawthorns, everything is quite rosey as Carlos Corberan’s West Bromwich Albion team is playing at a very high level and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
With four wins and a tie from their first five league games, West Brom is currently atop the Championship standings and will look to maintain it following their decisive 3-0 triumph away at Portsmouth last weekend.
To maintain their excellent success, Corberan may need to be ruthless in his team selections, though, since Karlan Grant, the recently-rejuvenated Baggies winger, may be forced to miss today’s match against Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle.
Performance of Grant against Pompey
After being sent out on loan to Cardiff City, the former Huddersfield Town forward would have expected that his off-season would be primarily spent looking for a new club to call home before the 2024–25 season got underway.
Rather, since Grant returned from Wales, Corberan has gradually given him more and more first-team playing time, and the 27-year-old attacker has partially justified his manager’s choice.
The number eighteen for the Baggies even has a goal next to his name from the five league games he has managed this season, having struck away at Stoke City to cap off a successful August. However, he may not start for the Pilgrims this coming Saturday.
In the recent 3-0 victory at Fratton Park, the 27-year-old found it difficult to settle into the game. Grant had fewer touches on the South Coast than Baggies goalkeeper Alex Palmer, with 36 compared to Palmer’s 53.
In addition, Grant finished the game with just 11 correct passes and one on-target attempt toward Will Norris’ goal. Meanwhile, midfield players like Alex Mowatt, Tom Fellows, and John Swift excelled, and Grant’s lackluster left flank play was mostly ignored.
Corberan may then wish to consider other candidates for this left-wing position rather than the 27-year-old, since the Spaniard has a lot of possibilities.
The athletes who could take Grant’s place
Corberan’s first thought when it comes to a possible replacement for Grant today would be Mikey Johnston, who replaced the former Celtic player away at Pompey in the closing moments.
Immediately before the transfer window closed, Johnston signed a statement leaving the Baggies and rejoining his former club permanently. The 25-year-old had an incredible 2023–24 season while playing for West Brom.
Both Johnston and Grant would provide the same amount of points to their respective teams in the second division last season, as the table above shows, but Johnston would manage his exceptional production while playing in 21 less games than his Bluebirds counterpart.
In order to give the former Boyfriends player a chance to shine again in the West Midlands, Corberan may want to consider bringing the 25-year-old back into the starting lineup after he made a brief appearance at Fratton Park in Grant’s place.
Johnston scored seven goals during his incredible loan period the previous season, one of which came against Plymouth in a 3-0 away victory in February. If chosen, he should feel comfortable taking advantage of the Pilgrims at any time.
Grady Diangana is another player Corberan may consider replacing Grant with because the Spaniard wants to make small adjustments here and there without upsetting the harmony that currently exists in the first team.
Therefore, the revitalized Grant might have to settle for a spot on the bench today as West Brom looks to win four straight league games to strengthen their lead in the division.
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