West Brom forward Grady Diangana arguably faces his most critical spell at The Hawthorns over the next couple of months and failure to impress could force Carlos Corberan into a January sale.
The Baggies are suffering from a terribly depleted attacking weaponry right now after confirmation on Tuesday 10 October that midfield maestro John Swift will be out of action for approximately six weeks after sustaining a calf strain in their 3-1 loss at Birmingham City on 6 October.
The 28-year-old fired the Baggies in front at St Andrew's but limped off in the 73rd minute as Corberan's men suffered their first defeat in six games before the international break.
It's also been confirmed that Swift would immediately begin a period of rehabilitation and is expected to return following the November international break joining the likes of Josh Maja, Jeremy Sarmiento and Daryl Dike on the treatment table.
The 28-year-old maestro has been immaculate so far this season, bagging six goals and one assist in eleven games, especially at a time when Corberan is short of options and a clinical edge in attack.
To lose Swift's creativity, ingenuity and quality in the final third will certainly be like to lose an arm and a leg for West Brom and Corberan will be having both his fingers and arms crossed that his alternative attacking options will step up in his absence.
And that hands the inconsistent Diangana the chance to regain Corberan's unwavering trust in his ability to provide the Baggies with the answers on a regular basis.
West Brom signed the fleet-footed Frenchman from West Ham on a permanent basis in 2020 following a productive loan spell but throughout his three-year spell at the Baggies, he's flattered to deceive on several occasions, registering just 15 goals and 12 assists from 135 appearances at The Hawthorns [Transfermakt].
So far this season, he's played a total of six games (three starts), registered just one assist, two big chances created, averaging 0.
8 key passes, 1.
5 shots and just 0.
2 accurate crosses per game [SofaScore] - stats which Corberan will not be particularly impressed by.
Given his unique attacking qualities, the West Brom faithful would have been expecting more from the former West Ham forward but injuries and inconsistencies mean his West Midlands career could be cut short should it ramble on.
It's no secret that the club are in financial peril right now and Diangana was long touted as one of the key stars in the squad that West Brom were open to a potential multi-million-pound departure (Sunday People, 11 June, page 61) to accumulate some much-needed cash injection.
His contract is up in two years' time [Transfermarkt] and so far in his West Brom career he hasn't proven his case for an extension and more crucially, a key role under Corberan and desperate times may call for desperate transfer sale measures at The Hawthorns should Diangana fail to fulfil his promise in the West Midlands.
In other West Brom news, a football expert has been left stunned after behind-the-scenes news has emerged at Hawthorns over the past few months.
{{#primary_category}} {{primary_category}}{{/primary_category}} {{author_name}} {{date_formatted}} West Brom ace John Swift deservedly handed Sky Sports recognition with Championship Team of the Season place.
