OPINION
The Championship play-offs are some of the hardest fixtures a player could experience in their career and successful clubs need their best players in top form to prevail.
Experience is key if a club wants to earn promotion the hardest way possible and managers will pick their best possible side available and this could be bad news for West Brom youngster Rekeem Harper who was left out of his side’s 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Harper, 19, has enjoyed a first breakout season in the Baggies side making 16 appearances in their midfield and scored in first goal against Rotherham in their final home game of the season.
What could make it even more daunting for the youngster is that he was not included even though he was fit to take part if interim manager Jimmy Shan decided to throw him in – which must have the alarm bells ringing around the Hawthorns.
Express and Star Journalist Matt Wilson revealed on his personal Twitter account before the clash with Villa: “Harper not in the squad at all. Told he’s not injured”.
It's Phillips's first start in more than two months. Harper not in the squad at all. Told he's not injured #wba
— Matt Wilson (@mattianwilson) May 11, 2019
His exclusion in the match-day squad comes just days after the Daily Mail linked him with a move to Champions League finalists Tottenham, who are said to be looking at a summer bid for the youngster.
It has also been a great breakthrough season for Harper internationally with the 19-year-old having made his England youth debut back in September and should West Brom not be careful regarding his future, which includes giving him the chance to prove himself, there are seemingly clubs waiting to snatch up Harper to play in the Premier League.
Harper, 19, has enjoyed a first breakout season in the Baggies side making 16 appearances in their midfield and scored in first goal against Rotherham in their final home game of the season.