4 hours Ago By [email protected] (Joseph Chapman)
West Brom will be boosted by the return of vice-captain Kyle Bartley to the match-day squad when they meet Plymouth Argyle on Saturday lunch-time. Centre half Bartley hasn't played since the New Year's Day win over Preston North End, missing four matches in that time, but Tony Mowbray will have him available for selection at Home Park. Bartley , 33, has been a regular selection in the side, certainly under Mowbray's predecessor Carlos Corberan , who inspired a renaissance in the defender at a time when, towards the end of Steve Bruce's reign, he mightn't have featured as much otherwise.
In his absence, summer signings Torbjorn Heggem and Mason Holgate have lined up alongside one another. That is likely to continue against Plymouth, but it'll be a shot in the arm for all involved that Bartley is well enough to be involved again. There are no issues with Grady Diangana , meanwhile, who has trained routinely this week after taking a knock in the 5-1 win over Portsmouth last weekend , while Jayson Molumby has also overcome his bout of illness.
Mowbray also confirmed that long-term injury absentee Semi Ajayi - who hasn't played since October because of a serious hamstring injury - is well on his way to making a comeback and might even return in the next couple of weeks. "Big Kyle has now been training the last three days and so has big Semi, even though I think he's 10 days or a fortnight away," Mowbray confirmed. "Kyle will be travelling with the squad and be involved at the weekend.
" It's been another week of progress for Daryl Dike, meanwhile, in his own bid to return to the field. Indeed he's even informed Mowbray that he intends to be available to feature against Sheffield Wednesday next weekend, but Mowbray has tempered expectations and will administer the responsibility of planning the next steps with director of medical Tony Strudwick. "I asked him the other day, what he thought, and he said he'd be ready for Sheffield Wednesday and I thought 'wow - when is that?' I think that's a footballer who hasn't discussed it with the medical staff," Mowbray smiled.
"My view is that he needs to play a practice match or games on a big pitch. "It's alright doing little drills in boxes but when you play on a big pitch and someone knocks it over the top and you have to spring 60 metres, and then get back and not be offside it's slightly different. Sometimes footballers who have been out a long time are just desperate to play.
"I would just trust the medical department, Tony Strudwick, to know when he's ready. I always like them to play (youth games), get through 90 minutes, have the odd sprint with the centre-half, just so you're ready." What's your starting XI at Plymouth? Tell us HERE.
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