Carlos Corberan has revealed West Brom had plans to sell young academy product Reyes Cleary during the summer transfer window before his injury blow in April.
The 19-year-old forward was an instant hit during the 2022/23 campaign, scoring 19 goals for Richard Beale's PL2 side as well as making five appearances across three different competitions for Corberan's team.
However, the Baggies wonder suffered a serious hamstring injury towards the back end of last season after scoring a hattrick against Derby in a 5-1 PL2 win in April - his last appearance in a West Brom shirt [Transfermarkt].
And speaking ahead of Saturday's Championship clash with Plymouth Argyle, with Cleary returning to training, Corberan revealed that he felt Cleary needed the loan experience before his injury setback.
He said (via Birmingham Live, 20 October): " For me, Reyes Cleary is an under-21 player still, who has had a massive injury from last year and without the experience of a loan.
"In my mind, he needed the loan to be ready for the first team.
We see a lot of potential in him, but we are seeing the need for a loan.
"Unfortunately, our idea didn't work because, in the last games, he suffered an important injury that has made him be four or five months off the pitch.
"January loan possibleThe West Brom teenager was certainly making giant progress before his injury setback in April showcasing why he is arguably one of the biggest talents at the club.
19 goals last season for the Under-21s is a stunning record, one which could well be translated at a higher level if given the opportunity and confidence from his manager.
A loan move would have certainly been ideal for Cleary, to develop and refine his game but also further his development, something West Brom could well have benefitted from in the long haul.
However, his injury in April was a crucial blow for him given the giant strides he made last season but as is the case with plenty of footballers these days, injuries are certainly a learning curve and will be for Cleary.
Hopefully, he can use the setback as fuel to further his development and learning and training with the first team after his return is a huge step for him to become the player the Baggies are confident he can be.
Whether Cleary is ready for Championship level is up to Corberan but his impressive record at youth level suggests so, but judging by Corberan's comments, a loan move in the January window is totally out of the question.
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.
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