Senior West Brom player Martin Kelly appears to be nearing a comeback, as recent footage depicts him participating in training with the first team. The 33-year-old defender suffered a significant knee injury while on loan at Wigan Athletic in February and has been sidelined ever since. Although initial reports suggested a potential return in the new year, the club’s official Twitter account shared a video on November 20, showing Kelly receiving enthusiastic support from teammates during his return to first-team training.
Kelly faced an unfortunate setback in his first game for Wigan during his loan spell in January. The temporary move was intended to provide the seasoned defender an opportunity to revitalize his career, but it ended up being counterproductive.
While it is a positive development for West Brom to have the experienced defender back in training after an eight-month absence, uncertainty lingers about his future. Manager Corberan hinted in late September that Kelly might be loaned out in the January transfer window. With his contract set to expire in June 2024, it wouldn’t be surprising if West Brom decides to part ways at that point.
Great to see you back in first team training, @MartinKelly1990! 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/19V5ioau2d
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) November 20, 2023
The team’s current defensive depth, as acknowledged by the Spaniard, leaves Kelly with limited prospects for a place in the West Brom lineup in the near future. The question of whether there will be potential suitors in the upcoming transfer window remains uncertain, especially considering his recent return from injury. As a result, Kelly might find himself on the periphery until the summer of the next year.