West Brom have changed their minds over sending Jack Fitzwater back on loan to Walsall, according to the Express & Star.
The newspaper claims that the Baggies had told the League One side that they would be allowing the 21-year-old defender to return to them after recalling him to play in the FA Cup win against Wigan.
It is now understood that Albion have made a U-turn on that decision after progressing to the fourth round of the FA Cup, and Fitzwater has jetted out to Dubai with the rest of the first team squad for a mid-season training camp so that Darren Moore can run the rule over him.
OPINION
West Brom may have added to their defensive options by signing Mason Holgate on loan from Everton, but it appears as though Moore could yet give Fitzwater a chance to impress in the first team. Fitzwater played well for Walsall before his loan deal was terminated early. He made 25 appearances in all competitions for them. In the seven games he missed, the Saddlers failed to pick up a single win, which just goes to show how much of a blow this news will be to them. It’s unlikely that Fitzwater would get much game-time if he stayed at The Hawthorns, unless he is being kept because Tyrone Mears’ contract expires soon. Mears leaving means that Holgate will be starting right-back with Tosin Adarabioyo as the back-up option. That means that Craig Dawson, Ahmed Hegazi and Kyle Bartley would be Moore’s centre-back choices. Bartley has been in poor form for the Baggies and has had problems with injury. Keeping Fitzwater might be a good idea.