OPINION
Darren Moore must make wholesale changes to his West Brom side if he wants to name his best possible starting line-up for the FA Cup meeting with Wigan at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
Sam Johnstone and Kyle Bartley cost Albion a combined £10.5million in the summer, according to the Express & Star, but they both need axing after their woeful displays in the 2-1 defeat to Blackburn on New Year’s Day, so Boaz Myhill and Jack Fitzwater can come into the side.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Gareth Barry, Harvey Barnes and Hal Robson-Kanu also need to be dropped so that Moore can name a side that is capable of a win against Wigan in the third round, as well as rest some of the key players.
Myhill should start in goals with a back-four of Tyrone Mears, Craig Dawson, Fitzwater and Kieran Gibbs in front of him.
Sam Field must make a long-awaited return to the midfield so that he can partner James Morrison.
Matt Phillips will be key to any kind of victory so he should start out on the right-wing with Bakary Sako on the left and Wes Hoolahan in the central attacking midfield role.
Jay Rodriguez might need a rest but Albion have no chance of beating Wigan unless they play him up front due to Robson-Kanu’s lack of goals and Dwight Gayle’s injury issue.
If Moore names this side then the Baggies are bound to rip the Latics to shreds, just like they did on Boxing Day.