Carlos Corberan’s: West Brom Risk As He Sweats On Injury Of Key Man Ahead Of Leeds United Return

Carlos Corberan’s: West Brom Risk As He Sweats On Injury Of Key Man Ahead Of Leeds United Return

Carlos Corberan returns to Elland Road on Friday night with West Brom in a fixture that will evoke memories from his time in the home dugout. The Spaniard joined in 2017 as under-23 manager but was promoted to first-team coach under Marcelo Bielsa.

He helped guide Leeds United back to the Premier League under Bielsa as champions but will be hoping to get one over on his former employers when he brings West Brom to his old stomping ground. The Baggies enjoyed a 3-2 success over Swansea at the Hawthorns on Saturday, but they did so without striker Brandon Thomas-Asante.

 

The 24-year-old striker came off the bench just before the hour mark in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat at Stoke, netting the equaliser just seven minutes later. However, he then suffered an ankle injury, which saw him miss the weekend win over the Swans.

As a result, Corberan had to play without a recognised striker, which did not appear to impact the team too much given their result, but he is now hoping he will be back to face Leeds after admitting he regrets playing him in the cup fixture.

 

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He told the Express and Star: “It’s complicated. I respect my club and my fans a lot. That is why I made a decision, but at the same time, I have to be smart in managing the minutes of the player.

“The fact that Asante didn’t have a replacement, maybe I should’ve managed the game against Stoke in a different way and don’t give the option for Asante to play a single minute.

“I was taking a risk because Asante didn’t have a replacement right now, but football is about winning games and you have to make decisions even knowing the injuries we have. Now we need to see how the player reacts.”

 

Leeds are winless after the opening the two games, with only a point on the board following their late fightback on the opening day at home to Cardiff, while the Baggies win over Swansea was their first of the campaign.