OPINION
West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Jonathan Bond will likely be handed another chance to impress in the FA Cup against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night.
The 25-year-old has been in fantastic form in the competition this season, securing back to back clean sheets in the Baggies’ last two FA Cup games.
And with first choice shot-stopper Sam Johnstone enduring a somewhat iffy campaign for Darren Moore’s team, Bond can put an end to his run in the first team with another big cup display.
The Express & Star claim that Bond is expected to play at the Hawthorns having put in a Man of the Match performance in the original tie.
Johnstone, who the Express & Star’s report claims was a £6.5million addition from Manchester United last summer, has been inconsistent at times this term and must be looking over his shoulder after Bond’s cup successes.
Johnstone has played every single minute of league action for the Baggies this season, but came under fire once again last weekend for his role in Middlesbrough’s first goal in their win over Moore’s team.
For a back up goalkeeper cup games are the only real opportunity to prove to your manager that you deserve a run in the first team. It’s been a limited sample size, for sure, but so far you have to say that Bond has done that and then some.
Another top class showing against the Seagulls might be another for Moore to think ‘hang on a minute, this lad is playing better than our first choice at the moment’.
The manager will naturally feel more loyalty towards his big money singing, but performances don’t lie and Bond has been doing the business of late. One more showing could be all it takes for Bond to shake – not stir – the goalkeeping situation up at the Hawthorns.