West Brom manager Carlos Corberan has hinted that Paddy McNair could be fit to feature against Bristol City when the Robins make the trip to The Hawthorns this weekend.
Liam Manning’s side travel to the West Midlands looking to end a three-match winless run on Sunday afternoon and will be joined by a sold-out away end and the Sky Sports cameras.
Although it is currently unclear whether or not the Reds will be boosted by the return of Sinclair Armstrong or George Tanner, with Manning hinting the latter was closing in on a comeback from injury, Corberan has suggested his side could benefit from the return of Northern Irish international McNair.
“Yes, (within a week), that’s the plan,” Corberan told the Express and Star about the 29-year-old’s return to training. “His (loan expiration) date is the 31st, he needs to be out by January 1 and I think he’s travelling January 2 or something like this. But the loan is the 31st, so he cannot play on the 1st.”
When asked if the San Diego FC loanee was targeting a return for the Baggies’ Boxing Day clash with Derby County, Corberan said: “Even before – I don’t know, let’s see how he progresses and how the team progresses. Let’s see.”
Albion forward Grady Diangana has missed West Brom’s last six matches with pain in his calf. Corberan had been optimistic that the 26-year-old would be fit to feature against both Coventry City and Watford last week, but the DR Congo international wasn’t included in either matchday squad.
With a free week between fixtures ahead of the busy festive schedule, the West Brom squad have been given a rare chance to rest and recover ahead of City’s visit this weekend. However, it remains unclear if Diangana will be included in the team to face Bristol City.
“Still he didn’t have his normal physical values,” explained Corberan. “We felt the decision to not involve him [against Watford] was the right decision.
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“It is a necessary time right now, especially knowing the marathon of games we are going to be playing in the Christmas period.”
While the Baggies face games against Derby, Sheffield United and Preston North End over the festive period, Manning’s side have their own hectic schedule to contend with. After Sunday’s trip to The Hawthorns, the Reds welcome Luton Town to Ashton Gate on Boxing Day and Portsmouth make the trip to the West Country on December 29. The holiday fixtures are then rounded off with a New Year’s Day trip to Home Park to face Plymouth Argyle.
With matches coming thick and fast over the next two weeks, the City boss will be keen to have as many players as possible fit and ready to feature in some capacity. After a difficult spell with injuries over the last few months, the Robins seem to be getting more players off of the treatment table and back onto the playing field.