West Brom’s quest for an early Championship playoff spot has received an unexpected boost, as talented teenage striker Reyes Cleary has returned to first-team training after being sidelined for several months due to a hamstring injury.
The 19-year-old forward made a significant impact during the 2022/23 season, scoring 19 goals for Richard Beale’s PL2 side and making five appearances in various competitions under Carlos Corberan’s management.
Unfortunately, Cleary suffered a serious hamstring injury towards the end of the last season, with his last appearance for West Brom coming in a 5-1 PL2 victory against Derby in April, during which he scored a hat-trick.
However, this recent development is a positive sign for West Brom as they push for a playoff spot in the Championship. Currently sitting 11th in the table with 16 points out of a possible 33, Cleary’s return could provide an exciting attacking option to bolster their goal-scoring capabilities.
As the team prepared for their upcoming Championship fixture against Plymouth Argyle on October 21, Cleary was seen training alongside defender Cédric Kipré on October 19. West Brom has been struggling with a shortage of attacking options due to injuries to key players such as John Swift, Jeremy Sarmiento, Josh Maja, and Daryl Dike, which has hindered their promotion efforts.
While Cleary might not be ready for Saturday’s game, his return comes at a crucial time, especially as Brandon Thomas-Asante is currently the only specialized striker available to Corberan. However, Thomas-Asante has been grappling with a loss of form and confidence, leading to Corberan making the unconventional decision of deploying Jed Wallace as a forward in recent matches.
Although Cleary may still need some time to regain his match fitness and could initially play with the reserve team, the recent images of him back in training indicate the club’s confidence in his potential.
West Brom is in dire need of goals to improve their position in the table, and Cleary has a proven track record of scoring goals, having netted 19 for the reserve side before his injury.
The Championship is widely recognized as an ideal platform for emerging young talents to develop their skills, and players like Cleary, who have taken a similar path, have gone on to achieve success in the Premier League. It would be a remarkable opportunity for West Brom and their fans to have a promising young striker like Cleary who could become a key figure at the club for years to come.
Promoting talent from within the academy is an important step for the club to secure a sustainable and prosperous future at The Hawthorns. Cleary’s impressive record at the reserve level, with 52 goals in 61 appearances, should certainly earn him regular opportunities with the first team once he is fully fit.