Some West Brom fans have been sharing their excitement on social media to the news that Kieran Gibbs will make his return from injury in Tuesday’s FA Cup fixture versus Newcastle United.
As reported by West Brom’s official website, club manager Slaven Bilic “confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Gibbs will return from injury against Newcastle on Tuesday night”.
Birminghammail.co.uk gave further elaboration on Bilic’s update on the 30-year-old full-back, reporting that Bilic’s pre-match comments stated that “based on training he’s ready”, before confirming that Gibbs is “going to start” in Tuesday’s FA Cup tie versus Newcastle United.
Gibbs has been out of action for the Baggies since suffering a hamstring injury on the first of January in West Brom’s Championship clash with fellow promotion contenders, Leeds United.
The 30-year-old was taken off the pitch just 18 minutes into the Baggies’ New Year’s Day clash with Leeds, being replaced by Conor Townsend who has enjoyed an extended run in the Baggies side since that Leeds game, playing 1,047 of his 1,417 Championship minutes this season since replacing Gibbs versus Leeds.
Some Baggies supporters have reacted with excitement to the news that Gibbs will be making his return from injury in Tuesday’s FA Cup game. Read the positive reactions from some West Brom fans to the latest update on the 30-year-old left-back in the tweets below.
Should Kieran Gibbs replace Conor Townsend in West Brom's starting XI moving forward?YES, GIBBS IS BETTER THAN TOWNSEND
NO, TOWNSEND IS UNDROPPABLE AT THE MOMENT
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https://twitter.com/wbalatest/status/1234458407328940032
Why not?? He needs game time, and Townsend hasn’t done anything wrong to be dropped so give him a game..
— Andrew Colclough (@AndyColclough) March 2, 2020
good news on Gibbo ?
— Carl 1878 ????? (@baggyboy1878) March 2, 2020
Perhaps he’d rather rest Connor for Swansea given that he’s been doing so well.
— Kieran Wentz (@kieranthebaggie) March 2, 2020
Gibbbbooooooooo
— Reece (@reexew) March 2, 2020
Well imo if Furlong & Gibbs start we will have our best 2 full backs playing!
— ian griffiths (@griffraces) March 2, 2020
Gibboooooo
— ????? (@IiamwbaV4) March 2, 2020
What do we think?
Tuesday’s FA Cup fixture may provide West Brom with an excellent opportunity to introduce Gibbs back into the side. The former Arsenal man’s Premier League experience may be an asset in Tuesday’s FA Cup game versus Premier League Newcastle.
Furthermore, Tuesday’s game may allow West Brom an opportunity to give the 30-year-old some competitive minutes, while not disrupting the impressive form that Gibbs’ replacement Conor Townsend is currently enjoying in the Championship. Townsend has earned an overall rating of over 7.0 on WhoScored.com in seven of his 10 Championship games since replacing Gibbs versus Leeds on the first of January.
His recent form has helped him to increase his average overall rating for the 2019/20 Championship season to 6.87, which is a higher average overall rating than Gibbs’ average overall rating of 6.74, from his 10 Championship appearances this season.
Gibbs’ return coinciding with Townsend’s positive form may provide a selection dilemma for Bilic, moving forward.