West Brom manager Darren Moore has admitted that a return date for defensive mainstay Kyle Bartley is up in the air after his injury blow but that he will have a senior pair to welcome back for the clash against Ipswich Town this weekend.
The Baggies have had to do without their summer signing for the last two Championship games against Hull City and Leeds United, with a yellow card suspension adding to the injury problems suffered by the powerhouse.
Moore and his men return to action at Ipswich and the manager will be able to call upon senior duo Gareth Barry and Chris Brunt after their respective layoffs.
He told the official West Brom website: “Gareth Barry is back in, Chris Brunt is back in. Kyle Bartley is probably the one that we’re still waiting on. We want to give him more time to make sure when he comes back he stays back.
“If you were playing Saturday to Saturday you could probably risk a player but I always say in this league the games come thick and fast the decision is taken out of your hands. If there’s any slight doubt I’m prone to leave them for games in the future.”
Opinion
On paper this a heavy blow for West Brom but considering Bartley’s performances this season it is probably a blessing in disguise. The Baggies have not performed well with him at the heart of the defence and it was clear from their last game – the 4-1 thrashing of fellow high flyers Leeds – that he was not missed at all. Whether Brunt and Barry should be given a game is another matter entirely. Should Moore really risk changing up a side who were so dominant over a team many have tipped to push for promotion this season? The obvious answer is no, but fitness and tactical decisions could well change the mind of the manager. It is a difficult situation as West Brom are obviously hot favourites to seal victory, and so that pressure could well weigh on the players’ shoulders, not least because of their last result. Bringing in the experienced heads of Barry and Brunt could be a smart move, but one which risks disrupting the balance of the side.