There’s no denying that West Bromwich Albion have become a different kettle of fish this season under head coach Darren Moore now he’s been able to truly stamp his mark on the side after last season’s Premier League relegation.
Having introduced some heart and battle into our performances at the end of the year, it’s been full steam ahead in recent weeks after a more mixed start to life in the Championship, and as we wait for the October international break to fully end, we sit pretty in second place in the second tier table.
With plenty of attacking positives to take, defensively we have obvious concerns – albeit we have seen some improvement.
Discussing potential January options on social media, a number of fans feel that the club could do far worse than bring youngster Jack Fitzwater back from his loan spell out with League One Walsall and give him a proper crack in the backline now he has further experience under his belt.
Wilson seems a strange one letting him go, someone may correct me but isn't he an attacking right back(?) surely a better option than Mears
— tomwba (@tomwba1982) October 12, 2018
Jack Fitzwater > Kyle Bartley #WBA
— joe ???? (@joekapalo) October 13, 2018
100% would recall Jack in January. Will have had a season and a half of men’s football under his belt and whilst playing a back 3 only having 4 first team CB’s fit is a risky business.
— joe ???? (@joekapalo) October 13, 2018
Please so. Can he fill 3 centre half positions on his own?
— Chris Lepkowski (@chrislepkowski) October 13, 2018
Gotta be better than that pair we got playing at the back at the min
— jay (@Jaywba1982) October 13, 2018
If Big Dave will give him regular games bring him back if not then keep him at Walsall
— Jonathan Evans (@The5pecialone31) October 13, 2018
He literally cannot be any worse than Hegazi
— Brom Jon (@Jon_Foz) October 13, 2018
The 21-year-old started last season with Forest Green Rovers, before moving to the Saddlers and stepping up in the January window in 2017/18, and having returned in August, he will have a solid year of good football under his belt, so I can understand the calls for him to now become an option as arguably he can’t be any worse than what we’ve seen from Craig Dawson, Kyle Bartley and Ahmed Hegazi so far, and with some improvements from the seniors, he would offer additional cover and they should be able to help bring him on further.
The clubs loan manager, Deon Burton recently told the E&S that the player was ‘close’ to a breakthrough and they would assess him come January, so the above fans could get their wish.