West Brom boss confirms massive double fitness boost ahead of Leeds United clash
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Carlos Corberan has received a major fitness boost with West Brom hoping to have Jed Wallace and Grady Diangana back in the squad for Saturday’s visit of Leeds United to the Hawthorns.
The attacking pair have both missed West Brom’s opening two fixtures after picking up calf injuries at different ends of pre-season. Diangana has been working on his fitness individually for some time after suffering the issue in July while Wallace fell foul of muscular problems much more recently, and less severely.
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Hide AdBoth were expected to miss Saturday’s first home league game of the season but returned to training on Thursday. And Corberan is holding out hope they can be involved against Leeds, but suggested neither will be rushed back with so much of the campaign left to plan for.
"Jed and Grady have both trained today (Thursday) with the group," Corberan told The Express And Star. "It was not strong training but it was training. If both players react well from it, they will train tomorrow (Friday) and if both are well with the situation that we have right now both have options to be involved in the squad.
"I will be happy when both players are ready to perform. We know that Grady didn't make pre-season because he arrived with the injury. Wallace did part of the pre-season, not a full one. He had the problem during pre pre-season so it is a similar feeling but it is always good to recover players."
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Hide AdAny involvement will likely come from the bench, given both are ahead of schedule going into the weekend, but their presence would be a major boost for Corberan who remains light in attacking areas. Karlan Grant and Tom Fellows occupied the flanks during Albion’s 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers last weekend but were both rested midweek, with Lewis Dobbin and Devante Cole out wide for the Carabao Cup defeat against Fleetwood Town.
Despite a problematic summer at the Hawthorns - Albion have been placed under an EFL-imposed business plan amid PSR concerns and lost a number of first-team players - Corberan kicked the new season off with a convincing win at QPR and looks set to challenge for a top-six spot once again. The former Leeds assistant lost top-scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante to Coventry but Josh Maja, who missed much of last season through injury, returned to bag an opening-day hat-trick at Loftus Road.
The Baggies will be without striker Daryl Dike, who suffered a second ruptured achilles of last season in February, one on each foot, and will miss the remainder of 2024. Leeds retain a decent bill of health going into the clash with only Max Wober a doubt, with the defender carrying a calf issue.
But Daniel Farke will be without Georginio Rutter, who looks set to join Brighton after his £40million release clause was triggered late on Wednesday evening. Leeds are still looking for their first win of the season after drawing 3-3 against Portsmouth and losing 3-0 at home to Middlesbrough in the week.