West Brom travel to Lancashire to face Preston North End at Deepdale in their latest EFL Championship clash.

The Lilywhites have a perfect home record and have recorded four consecutive 2-1 wins in front of their home supporters.
The Baggies meanwhile are winless on their travels having lost to Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, but in their last three away outings they’ve drawn with Leeds United, Bristol City and Watford.
Both managers have some injury issues to contend with, and there will be some decisions to be made closer to kick-off.

Here is the latest injury and team news ahead of the EFL Championship clash between Preston North End and West Brom:

The Baggies meanwhile are winless on their travels having lost to Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, but in their last three away outings they’ve drawn with Leeds United, Bristol City and Watford.
West Brom team news
Erik Pieters’ withdrawal against Millwall has given West Brom a new injury to worry about. He felt tightness in a muscle, and had to be helped off last weekend.

Josh Maja suffered ankle ligament damage against Bristol City, and has been ruled out for eight weeks. He won’t be back until mid-November, and so West Brom’s attacking options are limited. Adam Reach is a long-term absentee after limping out of a pre-season fixture with Burton Albion.

He isn’t expected to return to training until mid-November, and it will be some time until he makes a first-team appearance.

 

Daryl Dike is another who is unavailable to Carlos Corberan, after suffering an Achilles injury against Stoke City. He has suffered a spate of serious injuries during his time with the club, and there’s an expectation he will return to action in January.

 

Out: Adam Reach, Daryl Dike, Josh Maja and Martin Kelly. Doubtful: Erik Pieters.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe said to the Lancashire Evening Post he hopes to have Will Keane (adductor) available to him this weekend. The Republic of Ireland striker has missed the last three games after picking up an injury whilst on international duty and has resumed full training on Thursday. Keane will have two full days of training to prove his fitness to his manager.

Fellow strikers Ched Evans and Emil Riis meanwhile are still sidelined though both are making positive strides towards a return. Evans developed a ‘serious medical condition’ and underwent surgery and so Preston have adopted a cautious approach towards the 34-year-old.

 

Danish striker Emil Riis suffered a knee injury earlier this year and again the club are adopting a cautious approach for an injury usually has a nine-month time frame. He has begun part-time training and a return to action could come after the international break.

 

On-loan Liverpool defender Calvin Ramsay meanwhile is ruled out after sustaining an injury setback in August. He is yet to make his competitive debut for the club, and could make an appearance next month.

 

Out: Calvin Ramsay, Ched Evans and Emil Riis Jakobsen. Doubtful: Will Keane.

Striking questions: West Brom’s up front options with only one fit striker

From signing flops to crocks, Albion have struggled in the forward department ever since the deadly duo of Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle lit up the Championship.

There have been useful forwards but no one has solved the striking puzzle. Daryl Dike is currently out with his third lengthy injury, and Josh Maja suffered an unfortunate knock that will keep him out for two months.

 

That leaves Brandon Thomas-Asante as the only fit striker at the club. He will be wrapped in cotton wool between now and Maja’s return.

 

It is difficult to see how BTA plays every minute of every game until some his striking colleagues return – so what are the alternative options for Carlos Corberan?

Here is a look at a few options:

If fit and if told by the medical staff that he can get through games, Corberan will start BTA.

As a lone striker he gets through so much work, but in a front two that may take the physical burden off him.

 

The question then is who can play in a two? You’ve probably got a few options.

 

Jed Wallace and Matt Phillips have done it at times, even Grady Diangana could provide that creative spark in a front two.

 

It isn’t an ideal option, but it may tie Albion over until reinforcements emerge from the treatment room.

 

Wallace or Phillips

If BTA did need to come out and Corberan wanted to play just the one up top, Wallace or Phillips would probably be the only option to play as a striker.

 

Phillips has certainly done it more than Wallace. In the pre-season under Valerien Ismael he successfully played as a striker.

 

Wallace has only ever been used in behind a striker, but their qualities could pose problems.
They won’t bring the same physical hold up play as BTA, but running in behind and turning defenders is something they could do.

4-2-3-1 with Swift in behind

 

So far Albion have played 3-4-3 for the majority of the season – but an option to rest BTA could be by playing John Swift closer to the front man.
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Whether that front man is Phillips or Wallace, having Swift in behind just off the front man would provide fire power up top.

 

It may also help compared to a 3-4-3 system, which at times can see BTA a little isolated up front on his own.

 

On this point that number ten spot could be filled by Jeremy Sarmiento, who we are told has the qualities to play off a striker as well as out wide.

 

Playing without a ‘striker’

 

Man City have done this, as have Barcelona. Now, I’m not putting Albion in that ball park, but could it be done.

 

To preserve BTA while we wait for the return of Dike and Maja, it could be possible to play without a striker.

 

It would require a player to play as a false nine, most likely to be John Swift.
Then you’d pack the midfield and have players running from deep and Albion certainly have the options to do that.

However, I doubt this would be a system they would adopt.

 

Carry on as it is

 

Between now and Maja, and then Dike, returning to the side, Corberan could continue to play BTA for 90 minutes every week.

 

But what that does is run the risk of injury and fatigue.

 

The Spaniard will know that and it will all be about balancing the risks of injury with the need for points.