West Brom’s Plight Worsens as Key Player Faces Extended Spell on Sidelines
West Bromwich Albion has hit a rough patch after a strong start to the season, enduring a winless streak in their last six Championship matches. The recent 0-0 draw against Cardiff City only added to the pressure on manager Carlos Corberan, who now faces additional woes with key players sidelined due to injuries.
Following Kyle Bartley’s absence and the news of his extended time out until possibly near Christmas, a recent update revealed another blow for the team as Paddy McNair suffered a hamstring injury. To compound matters, Semi Ajayi is also struggling with a knee problem, leaving Corberan with a defensive crisis.
Corberan confirmed the injuries, stating, “It looks like a hamstring injury on Paddy and a knee problem on Semi. Adding this to Bartley’s setback makes this a challenging period for our defensive line. Bartley will be out of action for four to six weeks.”
The loss of Bartley is significant, given his solid performances in the 10 Championship matches he started this season. Furthermore, McNair, who deputized for Bartley, brought valuable experience to the backline, having earned 68 caps for Northern Ireland. Michael Carrick, former Middlesbrough manager, had praised McNair’s composure and passing abilities, qualities that will now be sorely missed by West Brom as they navigate this injury crisis during a critical phase of the season.
With McNair’s injury, we can only hope it’s not too severe, particularly given the packed schedule of league matches. The first challenge is the game against Luton Town on Friday evening. Hamstring injuries can be tricky, so it won’t be shocking if he’s out for a few weeks.
