Injuries force Mowbray to stop loaning out West Brom players
West Bromwich Albion’s spate of injuries could mean several fringe players will have to remain at The Hawthorns instead of leaving on loan deals, manager Tony Mowbray has warned.
Defender Jared Hodgkiss, who recently returned after a spell with Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen, was one of Mowbray’s first-team squad who was set to go out on loan to gain experience but Mowbray said any such agreements may have to be shelved after his side picked up more injuries in the 3-0 win over Middlesbrough last Saturday.
Forward Sherjill MacDonald has joined Belgian top-flight outfit Roeselare on loan until the end of the season but that could be the last such deal after Luke Moore and Leon Barnett (both hamstrings) joined the growing injury list.
As well as long-term absentees Neil Clement and Ishmael Miller, defenders Gianni Zuiverloon (knee), Jonas Olsson (knee) and Abdoulaye Meite (hamstring), and midfielder James Morrison (hamstring), are all receiving treatment.
“I have an affinity with my players,” Mowbray said. “If they are not playing and are a little bit unhappy I don’t want to stand in the way of their careers and their lives really.
“If they want to go and we can facilitate it then I am always happy to let footballers move on. I have shown that in the past and I have let some very talented players leave this club.
“As long as you get the right price for them or it is a loan deal and they are going to get some football, and it is giving them a perspective and a happiness in their life, then fine.
“Ultimately, the club has to come first and the team has to come first and at the moment, with the injuries we are carrying, I don’t think we have the scope to let too many out on loan.
“We have had one or two inquiries for Jared to go back out on loan but that will depend on Zuiverloon training this week. If he trains all week and is looking ready then there is a potential for Jared to go out and play.
“We need to stick together. Like cowboys we need to stick the wagons in a circle and wait until we come out the other end of our injury problems.”
The situation has created opportunities for several others, especially Pele, who made his first real contribution of the season after replacing Barnett in the first half on Saturday. The Portuguese-born defender lined up alongside Ryan Donk in a makeshift back four but performed admirably.
“A lot of the time Pele doesn’t make it on to the bench,” Mowbray said. “He was there this week and came in and did exceptionally well. He did his job, basically, which is what you hope your squad is all about.
“When you call on people who haven’t played for a while it just hits home why they need to do the extra work in training – the stuff they don’t like because they think they’re getting victimised and picked on. Things like a running session in the afternoon, when everyone else is resting, because they haven’t played for weeks and they need to keep their fitness levels high.
“Pele never moans about anything. He’s a top professional and an ideal footballer to have at your club.”
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