Baggies Blogs

‘Clean bill of health’ confession from manager has upped the ante for West Brom today – Opinion

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The final international break of 2019 has come and gone, and now it’s time for the season to take a serious turn for clubs in the Championship, and especially for West Brom.

The Baggies sit top of the pile in the English second-tier after 16 games in the season with Slaven Bilic getting the best out of a West Brom side that seemingly believe that this year can be the one that sees the Albion return to the Premier League.

Will we beat Sheffield Wednesday?

Yes

No

A seven-game unbeaten run has only improved the mood around the Hawthorns this campaign, but today is likely going to prove to be a difficult challenge for Bilic and his high-flying West Brom side when Sheffield Wednesday come to town.

With the Owls sitting just one place below the play-off spots in the Championship table, Gary Monk will be eager to travel to West Bromwich and secure the three points against the league leaders, and the Wednesday manager has received a big boost.

Speaking to the press ahead of this afternoon’s game via The Sheffield Star, the former Birmingham City manager confirmed that the Owls have essentially a fully-fit squad to bring with them to the Hawthorns, with Julian Borner, Sam Hutchinson and Massimo Luongo in contention to feature against West Brom.

Monk said to the press: “Atdhe and Palms came back in good health and have been back out on the training field. Apart from Joey Wildsmith – he is back out on the field now and is a couple of weeks away from fitness – we have a clean bill of health which is good.”

Indeed, a fully fit Wednesday side could pose some threat to West Brom, with records from 11v11 showing that the Baggies have not won against the Sheffield-based club since 2010, and this injury boost to the Owls will be something Bilic will have to weary of.

West Brom will be cautious not to let their heads drop with an automatic promotion spot on the line as well as an impressive unbeaten run that is beginning to build some steam, and Bilic will have to be on his guard for any surprises that come his way when the Wednesday starting XI is announced.

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