Carlos Corberan only has two recognised centre-backs to choose from when West Bromwich Albion play Luton Town on Friday night.
Only Mason Holgate and Torbjorn Heggem are available to play in the heart of defence at Kenilworth Road after The Baggies lost Paddy McNair and Semi Ajayi in the same game against Cardiff City.
Both Out Until 2025
Speaking to the Express and Star ahead of their trip to Bedfordshire, Corberan confirmed the worst-case scenario for his two centre-backs.
“Semi needed surgery and with this surgery you are out for around 16 weeks. It was an injury in the hamstring.
“Paddy is different. He didn’t need surgery but he will be around two months more or less. So maybe now it is around seven weeks as the game was last week. That is the last update on these players.”
Whilst Heggem has been a regular in West Brom‘s lineup this season at left-back rather than the centre, Holgate has only played once this season in that 0-0 draw against Cardiff. This is the Everton man’s second loan to The Hawthorns and his second straight season in the Championship having played seven times for Southampton in the first half of their play-off winning campaign.
Corberan did offer solutions in the forms of Gianluca Frabotta and Ousmane Diakite to deputise at centre-back as well.
Defensive Issues Elsewhere
The double blow is not the only bad news for West Brom’s defensive department. Daryl Dike is also expected to be out injured until Christmas. he was initially taken out of action in February with an Achilles issue, but a hamstring injury whilst returning to training has extended his absence. Elsewhere, Kyle Bartley is beginning recovery from his six-week setback after undergoing surgery.
Writer’s View
This is now truly a defensive crisis at West Bromwich Albion. They are stretched dangerously thin and the timescales for all their injury blows in defence mean this is going to be a long-term issue. A short-term deal for a free agent should be considered but judging by Carlos Corberan’s words they are likely going to weather the storm and use his midfielders to drop back should they need to.
1st Class Honours in Multimedia Journalism at Salford University. Writing mainly about League Two.
