OPINION
West Bromwich Albion slumped to another disappointing defeat on Saturday as they were beaten 1-0 by Hull City at the KCOM Stadium.
Darren Moore’s side produced a lifeless performance and didn’t deserve to take anything from the game. That doesn’t mean that lessons can’t be learned from the outing, however.
The middle of midfield was a laughing stock against the Tigers, but Moore was given a taste of something that could remedy the situation in the form of Hull captain Markus Henriksen.
The Norway international showed Chris Brunt and Jake Livermore how good he was with an excellent performance alongside the equally scintillating Jackson Irvine. Those two players bossed the game and made life extremely difficult for the Baggies.
It just so happens that Henriksen’s Hull contract is up at the end of the season [Source: Transfermarkt]. That opens the door for West Brom to go and make a move for him either in January or at the end of the season.
Moore’s team would be able to offer the 26-year-old bigger wages than he’s getting on Humberside while, despite Saturday’s result, you’d think that the Baggies represent a greater chance of Premier League football in the future for the midfielder.
Henriksen is exactly the sort of player West Brom need in a midfield engine room that has gone stale of late. There’s no creativity and precious little dynamism in the middle of the park at the Hawthorns.
The Hull skipper can do a little bit of everything and contributes in all facets of the game. He knits play together well and always produces an industrious performance for Nigel Adkins’s team.
Central midfield has been a big weakness for the Baggies this campaign. Brunt is indisputably past his best, while Jake Livermore and Sam Field are yet to make a real impact this term. James Morrison has been decent but he’s hardly a long term solution at the position.
Henriksen is only now approaching his prime and can still improve markedly as the years go on. He has everything to be a key player for West Brom, and the club should be doing all they can to bring him in.