Journalist pitches West Brom player who could solve Corberan crisis

Joe Chapman has proposed Okay Yokuslu as a potential solution to West Brom’s defensive injury crisis, suggesting that he could start as part of a back three against Coventry City.

West Brom, managed by Carlos Corberan, currently find themselves with limited defensive options due to injuries, with Cedric Kipre being the latest addition to the list after getting injured in the recent win over Queen’s Park Rangers. This injury leaves Corberan short of defenders for the upcoming match against Coventry.

Birmingham Live reporter Chapman believes that Okay Yokuslu could step in and play alongside Erik Pieters and Kyle Bartley in the back three. Yokuslu is usually a midfielder, but his versatility makes him a potential candidate for this defensive role.

Chapman wrote, “Albion’s midfield is currently the deepest and the one area with no significant injury issues for Corberan to select from. Nathaniel Chalobah and Alex Mowatt have been performing well, and Okay Yokuslu is another option for Corberan in the back three.”

Yokuslu has previously played as a defender in a back three during his time at Getafe in La Liga, even helping his team to a goalless draw against Barcelona. While not an identical replacement for the injured defenders, the current situation leaves West Brom with limited options.

The upcoming matches will test Corberan’s managerial abilities as he will need to assemble a competitive team to face Coventry City on the road without key players. Yokuslu may not be the first-choice midfielder, but his reasonable form this season could make him a valuable temporary option at center-back, even if it’s not his preferred position.

Chapman suggested that if Yokuslu was able to keep a clean sheet against Barcelona while playing in defense, he might be able to do a similar job against Coventry City. However, it would be a risk for Corberan to make this decision.

If Corberan doesn’t feel that young players Pipa and Caleb Taylor are ready to start in the Championship, Yokuslu may be the most viable option to address the injury crisis in the team.