The Hawthorns is the destination at the weekend for the lads who travel south to face a West Brom side looking to move one step closer to confirming their play-off position. The hosts have a number of key players that have the ability to influence the game. Let’s take a look at who they are…
MIKEY JOHNSTON
Johnston has been on fire for the Baggies since arriving on loan from Celtic. Seven goals and an assist is his tally so far this season in just 14 appearances. Some of those goals have been absolute screamers. If I had to describe him from the times I’ve seen him play I would say imagine a right footed Patrick Roberts with the end product of Jack Clarke. Not a bad player, eh? His ability to skip past defenders has been showcased in every game he’s played and the consistency he has shown has been incredible. With Jack Clarke’s inevitable departure in the summer, Johnston is one of the players I mentioned a few weeks back as a player I think would be a more than adequate replacement if he could replicate his form from this season. That said, West Brom have made it clear that they also hold a strong interest in retaining his services next season so should Sunderland make a move, they’ll have competition.
YANN M’VILA
It’s possible that M’Vila could start for West Brom against us at the weekend and seeing him on the pitch in a shirt that isn’t a Sunderland one just won’t sit right with me. I’m not prepared. He will offer a lot of quality in the middle of the park for the hosts if he is even half of the player he was during his time at Sunderland. He's someone that will certainly pose a test for the likes of Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah who will have to be on the top of their game. His eye for a pass was always special. His way of reading the game and being able to intercept an opponent's attack was above anyone else at the club and more than anything, he sports the most incredible set of facial hair I've ever seen on a man.
JOHN SWIFT
Swift has caused problems for Sunderland in the past, scoring goals and just generally having a positive influence on the play. Swift is an integral part of this West Brom team and is a big reason as to why West Brom find themselves fifth in the table, arguably overachieving with a squad that isn’t as good as some of its competitors. In the 33 appearances he has made this season, he has nine goals and one assist. A tally that has him as their second top goal scorer behind Brandon Thomas-Asante, who has 12. West Brom’s success in the upcoming fixture will come largely from set pieces of turnovers in play, both of which Swift is very good at with excellent delivery and the ability to play a threaded pass through the opposition defence.
ALEX PALMER
Only Ilan Meslier of Leeds United can boast keeping more clean sheets in the Championship than Albion goalkeeper Alex Palmer's 17. Palmer has been with the Baggies his entire career but the 27 year old would not make his full debut for West Brom until August 2021, a full 11 years after joining, but it was a day to forget as he picked the ball out of the back of the net on six occassions in a heavy defeat to Arsenal. The Kidderminster-born shotstopper is no stranger to a loan spell, spending time with Kidderminster Harriers, Oldham Athletic, Notts County, Plymouth Argyle, Lincoln City and Luton Town. It was with Plymouth that Palmer enjoyed his most successful period in his career so far, earning promotion to League One and being named the PFA Fans' Player of the Year for League Two and being part of the PFA Team of the Year also for the fourth tier. In the last couple of seasons he's been able to become West Bromwich's first choice goalkeeper.
DARNELL FURLONG
Darnell Furlong has featured in every single one of West Brom's 42 Championship fixtures so far this season and during these games the right back has contributed four goals and two assists whilst also being in the third best defence in the Championship with just 41 goals conceded. He is the son of former striker Paul Furlong and came through the QPR academy. During his time in West London he would have loan spells with Northampton Town, Cambridge United and Swindon Town before moving 125 miles north-west to join the Throstles (another nickname for WBA) on a permanent deal in 2019. He's been regularly involved since and is approaching his 200th appearance for his current club.
