A picture of Matt Phillips, a longtime West Brom absence, returning and engaging in light exercise has surfaced.
Following a serious injury he sustained in early December, the senior Baggies attacker was seen once again on the turf at the team’s training facility in an image published by The Express & Star on February 2.
Although Phillips was initially expected to miss four months of action, it is unclear if the Scotland international will be ready for West Brom’s Saturday (3 February) matchup with cross-town rivals Birmingham City.
The 32-year-old is not scheduled to return until April at the worst, which means he will miss around a month of the regular Championship season and may even participate in the play-offs. However, the most recent photos give optimism for an earlier-than-anticipated return.
Matt Phillips suggests Carlos Corberan as a possible West Brom boost.
The news that Phillips is back in training is encouraging, given he has struggled with injuries in recent years.
In January, West Brom was somewhat busy in the transfer market, bringing in three players on loan until the end of the season: Andreas Weimann, Callum Marshall, and Mikey Johnston.
The fact that Corberan is now well-stocked in the attacking department is great news for the entire team as they attempt to continue their Championship playoff chase.
What’s even more important are the players with winning mentalities and experiences that have been recruited, particularly Weimann and Johnston, who both have first-hand knowledge that very few members of the starting squad have.
Phillips has the same experience, but his injury in December was a major setback. Despite this, West Brom has done a great job of turning things around, especially considering how many injuries they had at the time.
The Scotland international’s current contract expires at the end of the current campaign, therefore it is unclear if the Baggies would offer him a new one.
Even so, his leadership and presence toward the conclusion of the season might be very beneficial to the team in the hopes that West Brom makes the playoffs in May, even if he doesn’t return until April.
In other West Brom news, Tony Brown responded to what he observed in the Black Country derby from one Albion player.
