OPINION
Darren Moore must axe West Brom captain Chris Brunt in one of two changes to field his best possible side against Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Friday night.
Brunt, 33, has been in poor form all season and needs to be hooked from his role in the centre of midfield and replaced by Gareth Barry, whose defensive experience could prove invaluable against Tony Pulis’ in-form side.
In the other change, Tosin Adarabioyo should lose his place on the right-side of the back-three and replaced by Craig Dawson, who is by far West Brom’s best centre-back and must start even though he handed in a transfer request in the summer (Sky Sports).
Sam Johnstone must keep his spot between the sticks behind a back-three of Dawson, Kyle Bartley and Ahmed Hegazi.
West Brom thrashed QPR 7-1 with this formation at The Hawthorns on Saturday and Moore would be crazy to not try it out with Dawson back in the fold against Middlesbrough.
In the midfield, Barry should start over Brunt and partner Jake Livermore in the central roles.
Kieran Gibbs and Matt Phillips were rampant at the weekend while playing in the wing-back roles and they should be used to cause a real headache for the Boro defence on Friday night.
If there is one player who can grab games by the scruff of the neck, it is Harvey Barnes, who started for the first time as a No 10 on Saturday and ran riot against Steve McClaren’s side.
If the Leicester loanee once again starts in a free role behind a front two of Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez, West Brom are bound to bring three points home to the Black Country and find themselves about Pulis in the Championship standings.