Kyle Bartley has been ruled out of West Brom’s Championship clash against former club Leeds United due to injury, according to Phil Hay.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported on his personal Twitter account three hours before the 5.30pm kick-off at the Hawthorns that he “heard on the way down” the centre-back misses out.
we’re all thinking goals tonight. Don’t imagine Bielsa will make any changes. Heard on the way down that Kyle Bartley is injured and won’t feature for West Brom.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) November 10, 2018
Bartley was expected to be in contention after starting West Brom’s first 15 league matches of the season before missing the defeat to Hull City last weekend due to suspension.
OPINION
Given that Bartley has been a virtual ever-present for West Brom this season, many would have expected him to have been restored to the starting XI against the side he represented with such distinction while on loan two seasons ago. Under Garry Monk, the 27-year-old had the best season of his career, when his partnership with Pontus Jansson brought back memories of the centre-back duos who shined for the club during their top-flight years. He has not quite reached those heights at the Baggies even though Darren Moore rates him highly and has started him in every Championship encounter for which he was available. Moore has preferred a three-man defence flanked by wing-backs and that could mean Craig Dawson once again teams up with Tosin Adarabioyo and Ahmed Hegazi at the back against Leeds. West Brom have attacked better than they have defended this season, which means tonight’s clash could be a thriller.