West Brom manager Carlos Corberan is feeling optimistic about the return of key players Josh Maja and John Swift after the upcoming international break in the Championship calendar. Maja has been sidelined since September due to ankle ligament damage, while Swift, the top scorer, has been recovering from a thigh injury sustained last month.
Both Maja and Swift, along with other long-term absentees Daryl Dike and Adam Reach, have started light training. The plan is for them to fully join training in the next couple of weeks, following the final game of the current block against Southampton. Despite missing key players, West Brom has performed well, securing ten points in the last four matches since the last international break and currently sitting in the play-off positions alongside Southampton.
Corberan is hopeful for a squad boost in the coming weeks if the players continue progressing as expected. He mentioned, “The idea is that both recover to training during the international break.” Maja is expected to be ready in the first week, while Swift should be back for the second week of the break.
Daryl Dike, who has been out since April with an Achilles injury, is also making progress. Though a bit behind Maja and Swift, Dike’s recovery has accelerated, and there’s a possibility he could be available from next month. Corberan emphasized the need to manage Dike’s pitch time but expressed confidence in having him as an additional squad option by the end of December.