West Brom’s emerging talent, Reyes Clearly, might explore a loan move from The Hawthorns in January following critical remarks from Carlos Corberan about his prospects in the first team. Corberan emphasized that the young striker must put in significant effort to earn a chance with the senior squad, and his chances of making the bench in a fully fit team seem slim.
Although Cleary found a place on the bench for the Championship match against Coventry, the return of Josh Maja and, eventually, Daryl Dike could limit his opportunities. Corberan indicated that academy players need to deserve their chances, and Cleary, who recently recovered from a long-term injury, still needs time to regain his peak form.
The manager stated, “He must rediscover his level because still the fact he had a long-term injury demands time for him to recover and be ready. We involved him at Coventry on the bench. Only once have we considered that he is ahead of other players, he might be on the bench with the first team.” These comments imply that Cleary has a significant journey ahead before breaking into the first team, especially with competition increasing when other players return from injury, making a January loan move a viable option.
Cleary, who suffered a six-month hamstring injury before his recent appearance on the bench, could benefit from a loan move to regain fitness and form. Despite former Baggies striker Kevin Campbell expressing doubts about Cleary’s readiness to become a star for the club, the 19-year-old has demonstrated his potential with 16 goals and three assists in 12 U21 appearances last season.
While Cleary remains highly rated by the club, as evidenced by his inclusion against Coventry, a January loan deal appears to be the most practical choice given the intensified competition once players are fully fit.
Semi Ajayi January absence likely after international performances
Semi Ajayi is increasingly inclined to depart West Brom in January, particularly following his standout performances for Nigeria, which have solidified his position in the national team ahead of the impending African Cup of Nations. The tournament is scheduled to take place from January 14 to February 11, and if Ajayi receives a call-up, a scenario that has become increasingly probable, he would miss five West Brom games.
Ajayi’s noteworthy contributions to Nigeria’s recent matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe have garnered praise, with a particularly high rating of 9/10 from Soccernet.ng after the 1-1 draw with Lesotho. The report emphasized Ajayi’s instrumental role in the draw, highlighting not only his crucial equalizer but also his solid defensive performance and commendable runs from the backline.
In the subsequent 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe, Ajayi received a rating of 6.5/10, with commendation for his partnership with Calvin Bassey in central defense. The report noted the growing synergy and communication between the duo.
These displays underscored Ajayi’s significance in the heart of the defense and his developing partnership with Fulham’s Calvin Bassey, positioning them as the likely first-choice defensive duo for the national team heading into AFCON. The strength of the Nigeria squad adds confidence that they can make a deep run in the tournament, aiming to clinch the trophy. Consequently, there is a high likelihood that Ajayi may be absent for the entire duration of the competition.
Ajayi’s increasing influence and demonstrated reliability for his country are pivotal factors in his potential selection. With each strong performance, the probability rises that Ajayi will be departing from The Hawthorns in January to fulfill his international duties.
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