This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
West Bromwich Albion boss Slaven Bilic has provided a clue into his team selection for Monday evening when they face a trip to Preston North End.
What’s he said?
The Baggies head into the weekend sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table, two points ahead of their main rivals Leeds United and seven points ahead of the playoff zone.
Depending on the Yorkshiremen’s result against Middlesbrough this afternoon, the pressure may be back on Albion to perform meaning Monday’s game could hold even more importance by the time it swings around.
Bilic has been talking about his improving striking department this week, and in doing so, provided a major hint into who will lead the line at Deepdale, he said:
“It’s impossible for all of them to play.
“Hal [Robson-Kanu] waited for his chance.
“For a long time he was almost tagged or labelled, even before I came here, as an impact player. But he deserves his chance, he’s waited a long time.
“He was coming from the bench good, then we put him in the team and he’s done really well since then.
“At the moment he is starting and he deserves it.”
Team selection
The Croatian chief is finally getting some sort of positive selection headache in the number nine role as for much of the season it has been a barren attempt from their three strikers.
Charlie Austin has practically tripled his goal tally for the season in the last two games alone, both from the bench too, while Hal Robson-Kanu has netted five goals in seven matches, which has led to Bilic talking him up this week.
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And then there’s Kenneth Zohore who has been out of action for a while through injury but he is now back pushing the aforementioned duo for a place in the matchday squad.
It seems likely that the Welshman will be selected again to lead the line for a fourth straight game based on Bilic’s latest remarks, even despite the 30-year-old building up a reputation as a ‘super-sub’ over his career.
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In other news, Baggies favourite Chris Brunt could be facing his last-ever season at the Hawthorns.
