West Brom: Semi Ajayi can shackle Keane

West Bromwich Albion are again in motion tonight, as they welcome a weak Wigan Athletic facet to the Hawthorns.

It marks an all-important Championship conflict for either side, who boast wildly differing causes for his or her need to win. While the Baggies search to bounce again from their defeat to Hull Metropolis, reigniting their playoff hopes, the Latics already discover themselves six factors adrift. Successful this recreation in hand would put them in a far way more safe place to attain security.

Ought to Semi Ajayi begin tonight?

Their league place has come about by way of months of poor kind, through which they’ve gained simply once in all competitions since early November.

Regardless of this, their prime marksman Will Keane stays a risk to any defence he performs towards. The 30-year-old has already hit double figures this marketing campaign for a struggling outfit, and will the guests earn a outcome tonight it should doubtless be cast by way of him.

Due to this fact Carlos Corberan should pay shut consideration to the previous Manchester United man, devising a plan to neutralise their primary risk to make sure one other house win for his facet.

Maybe returning Semi Ajayi to the beginning facet could possibly be simply the transfer.

Will Semi Ajayi play for West Brom tonight?

The £13k-per-week titan has just lately been displaced from the beginning facet, having began the season so effectively solely to be struck down with injury.

Erik Pieters stays in his spot, with the Dutchman having struck up a effective partnership with the ever-present Dara O’Shea.

However with Keane standing at 6 foot 2, the bodily ahead could be way more suited to the sport of Ajayi, who stands 4 inches taller than his present competitors for that second centre-back spot.

Not solely this however the attributes that Steve Bruce listed off when praising the 29-year-old additional mark him out as the proper man to shackle the Irish striker. His former boss claimed: “I’ve loved watching him, he’s a hell of an excellent defender. When he’s like he was on Saturday he’s large, robust, highly effective, fast, he gave a mountain of a efficiency, particularly second half.”

Final season he maintained a 6.84 common score the place he would common 1.5 tackles, one interceptions and three clearances per 90 (by way of Sofascore), as he dominated loads of strikers throughout the marketing campaign.

Regardless of having been restricted to only three appearances from the bench within the final ten league video games, now may mark the proper time to get him again on top of things while additionally throwing him into battle with Wigan’s primary aim risk.