West Brom set to make changes for Middlesbrough clash

Posted Friday, February 01, 2019 by PA

West Brom will make a raft of changes when they resume Championship action against fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough.

Baggies boss Darren Moore swapped nine players against Brighton in the FA Cup, but it might not be as easy as just restoring all of his star names to the starting line up as Ahmed Hegazi, Jay Rodriguez and Gareth Barry were not involved at the Amex Stadium due to injury.

Jake Livermore is back in contention after serving a four-match suspension but fellow midfielder James Morrison and winger Matt Phillips remain sidelined with their respective ankle injuries.

Moore made three new loan signings on Thursday, bringing in Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy, Swansea wide man Jefferson Montero and Fulham midfielder Stefan Johansen, and all of them come into contention for Saturday’s game.

Boro boss Tony Pulis, who by comparison had a quiet transfer deadline day with no new arrivals, has no fresh injury problems ahead of the trip to The Hawthorns.

A virus which swept through the dressing room ahead of last weekend’s 1-1 FA Cup fourth round draw with Newport has abated, while full-back Ryan Shotton emerged from that game unscathed on his return from a month-long lay-off with a knee injury.

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel made his full debut for the club in the cup tie following his move from Chinese side Tianjin TEDA and will hope for a first league start.

Defender Danny Batth has joined Stoke after being recalled from his loan spell by parent club Wolves and midfielder Grant Leadbitter has returned to former employer Sunderland.