Optimistic by nature, Carlos Corberan is yet optimistic that Josh Maja and Matt Phillips will be able to participate in West Bromwich Albion training during the upcoming international break later this month. Before the break, Albion has four more league games left before returning to action at Millwall on Good Friday.
In an effort to reunite with their teammates and support the squad in its pursuit of promotion through the play-offs, Corberan is hopeful that both of those long-term absences may be able to participate in specific training drills. Since December, Phillips has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury that required surgery. A week after Phillips’ return to Sunderland, Maja sustained an ankle ligament injury.
Having both players return at some point during the final stretch would be a huge help to Corberan, who has managed this season brilliantly in spite of other key players suffering injuries at different times.At that point, you take into account the successful January transfer window acquisition of Tom Fellows as a potential alternate attacking option.
Given the severity of the injury, Phillips is understandably recovering a little faster than Maja. However, there is still hope that Phillips will be able to return to training and possibly play against Bristol City before the break. Maja, on the other hand, is anticipated to make a comeback in April, possibly during the last seven games.
“We are with those players in the same process,” Corberan said. “They are progressing well, something that is very important to have. We don’t know if Phillips may do some part of training the week before the Bristol City game. The plan is that hopefully he can do some of the drills and then come back to us in the international break.
“Maja will make some of the training during the international break, so that when the break is finished he will be introduced back with the group – if everything goes well. Right now, with Maja, the more optimistic thing is what I tell you. In the last days, before Millwall, hopefully he can do some part of the training.”
While Daryl Dike will certainly and Jayson Molumby is highly likely to miss the rest of the season, the only other significant absentee at this moment is Brandon Thomas-Asante; Albion’s top scorer was substituted at half time in the recent 2-0 defeat to Southampton with a hamstring injury but it’s still unclear as to when his return can be pinpointed.
“With Asante, still we don’t know to see if he is able to help the team before the international break or not,” Corberan added. “It’s something that in the next days I will know more in detail.”
Leave a Reply