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Montero should be unleashed in West Brom run-in

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OPINION

West Brom fans have hardly seen Jefferson Montero since the winger was signed on loan from Swansea in the January transfer window, but he could be the Baggies’ secret weapon as they aim to win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs over the next few weeks.

Montero, 29, has made just four appearances for Albion and has not featured in any of their matchday squads since he was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw against Ipswich on March 9.

That was Darren Moore’s last game in charge and since James Shan has taken the reigns at The Hawthorns, the jet-heeled Ecuador international has not even had a chance to strut his stuff.

It was clear why West Brom signed Montero in the winter.

Not only did the club need to replace Harvey Barnes, they needed to add some pace to their squad, as well as an extra option on the wing after they ditched their three-at-the-back system which saw wing-backs do most of the work in wide positions.

Shan has chopped and changed his starting line-up and his formation since being named as caretaker manager, but even though he has been experimenting and offering different squad players the chance to shine, one player he has consistently overlooked is Montero.

The former Real Betis attacker should be unleashed in the final weeks of the season, starting with the clash with Rotherham on Saturday, to help West Brom secure a fourth-placed finish in the Championship.

It would also help to get him up to speed in the first team before the play-offs start because a player who is as fast and unpredictable as him could prove to be a real threat against other sides gunning for promotion.

Teams like Aston Villa and Leeds – both potential opponents for West Brom in the play-offs – have been shown to have a weak back-line at times this season and when hit on the counter-attack, they have been known to concede.

Montero can pick the lock of these defences and offer chances galore to players like Dwight Gayle, Jay Rodriguez and Hal Robson-Kanu with his traditional approach to playing on the wing.

Shan does not need to start Montero in every match that is left this season, just using the rarley-seen South American as an impact substitute could be all that Albion need to blast past their play-off rivals and return to the Premier League.

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