Former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips says the club should be able to comfortably seal promotion to the Premier League in their next two games, if Matheus Pereira is on top form.
Two wins in their final two games of the regular season away at Huddersfield and at home to QPR would guarantee automatic promotion for the Baggies, and Phillips believes Pereira is the man to make sure that happens.
The Brazilian has enjoyed an outstanding season since joining on loan from Sporting Lisbon last summer – a move that will become permanent at the end of this season – having scored eight goals and provided 16 assists in the Championship this season, something Phillips hopes to see more of in the final two games of the campaign.
Identifying his standout player for the Baggies from their goalless draw with Fulham on Tuesday evening, Phillips told West Brom News: “I can’t look any further than Pereira again. He always excites me when he gets on the ball. It always looks like something’s going to happen.
“I probably sound like a broken record every week saying the same own thing. He’s certainly a player who excites me, and if he can turn it on in the next two games, I don’t see any problems for West Brom.”
Is Matheus Pereira the man to lead West Brom to promotion?YesNo |
You can certainly see where Phillips is coming from here.
Pereira has been brilliant for West Brom all season, and he has often been the one to come up with those sparks of magic to turn games in the Baggies’ favour.
With the pressure likely to be on over the next couple of games, Pereira’s ability to come up with those game-changing moments could be vital when it comes to easing the nerves and picking up those wins in these next couple of games.
If he does that, then the £9million West Brom have reportedly paid to make Pereira’s move permanent will certainly be worth it.
