Harvey Barnes has thanked the West Brom fans for their support during his half-season stay at The Hawthorns after it was confirmed that he returned to Leicester on Friday.
The 21-year-old joined the Baggies on a season-long loan in the summer, but the Foxes took the decision to tear up the agreement earlier than scheduled due to his terrific form in the Championship.
It is a major blow for West Brom, but Barnes has been thankful for all that has happened during his spell in the Black Country.
“Would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved with West Brom for making my time there so special. I was delighted to be given the opportunity to the help the team have a successful first half of the season and I wish them the best of luck for the second half,” he said, via his personal Twitter account on Saturday morning.
“I also can’t thank the fans enough for the support on the pitch every game and for taking so well to me as a player. I wish the club all the success for the future. Boing boing.”
1/2 Would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved with @WBA for making my time there so special. I was delighted to be given the opportunity to the help the team have a successful first half of the season and I wish them the best of luck for the second half.
— Harvey Barnes (@harveybarnes97) January 12, 2019
2/2 I also can’t thank the fans enough for the support on the pitch every game and for taking so well to me as a player. I wish the club all the success for the future. BOING BOING
— Harvey Barnes (@harveybarnes97) January 12, 2019
OPINION
West Brom have been dealt a crushing blow that could seriously derail their bid for promotion to the Premier League this season. Barnes has been not only one of the best players at The Hawthorns, but the best in the Championship. The England Under-21 international has dazzled with his pace, trickery and cutting edge. He scored nine goals and supplied eight assists in 28 appearances across all competitions for West Brom, starting every single game in the Championship. Darren Moore is going to find it incredibly hard to replace the rip-roaring winger and losing him on the eve of one of the biggest games of the season, against second-placed Norwich, is an even bigger kick in the teeth. Barnes would have been heavily involved in the preparations for that game, unless it was known all week that Leicester were going to recall him. Expect a meltdown from West Brom fans if Barnes is not involved in the Foxes’ clash against Southampton on Saturday.