It looks like Matty Phillips will be joining West Bromwich Albion again in the upcoming weeks, and Carlos Corberan’s team will benefit greatly from having him back in the lineup.
After sustaining a hamstring injury during the match against Leicester City in December, the 33-year-old has been training nonstop to regain full health.
The former Queens Park Rangers player will give Baggies supporters hope that he will be back in training and maybe available for selection following the international break.
Season 23/24 of Matty Phillips, injury update
At the beginning of the current season, Phillips was a bit of a regular in Corberan’s first-team plans, having made 19 appearances, but tragedy struck against the Foxes three weeks prior to Christmas.
At the time of his injury, Albion was in fifth place in the league and the forward had already scored three goals and assisted three more for his teammates.
During his absence, everything have continued as usual at the Hawthorns, as they maintain their current standing in the Championship and have an eight-point lead over the teams vying for a postseason spot.
Fans may anticipate that Phillips will return and be ready to help his team secure a playoff spot at the end of the season and get them ready for the season-ending matchup in pursuit of a Premier League spot, though, following an encouraging report earlier this month.
“We don’t sure if Phillips may undertake some part of training the week before the Bristol City game,” Corberan stated earlier this month. The idea is for him to participate in some of the drills and then return to us during the international break.
| Matty Phillips 23/24 Championship stats | ||||
| Apperances | 19 | |||
| Starts | 18 | |||
| Goals | 3 | |||
| Assists | 3 | |||
| Shots / 90 | 1.56 | |||
| As of March 21st, 2024 Source: FBRef | ||||
That implies that the Baggies may be able to welcome him back into the starting lineup for either the three-day Watford visit to the Hawthorns on Good Friday or the team’s travel to Millwall on Friday.
Fans and teammates alike will be thrilled to see such a vital component of West Brom’s offensive production back at a time when teams are being pushed to the breaking point. Phillips’ expertise will be important as the season draws to a close.
The forward has already benefited from promotion from the Championship twice: once in 13/14 when Queens Park Rangers won the playoffs, and again in 19/20 when Albion finished in second place and were eligible for the Premier League.
The 23/24 Championship season for West Brom
Due to their forced search for a successor in the transfer market, WBA may have benefited from Phillips’ absence from December onwards, as Mikey Johnston, who joined on loan from Celtic, has shown to be a revelation.
Since relocating south of the Scottish border in January, the Irish international [shown] has made 10 appearances and scored six goals, with several of his striking efforts proving to be crucial in the battle for a top six finish.
With two explosive wide players who can score viciously from range, the 24-year-old could be the perfect addition to the team when Phillips returns. The Baggies will be a formidable force up front with players like Tom Fellows and Jed Wallace available to provide even more attacking threat.
Following the Easter doubleheader, Phillips could get some crucial playing time to get himself up to speed before the crucial games at the end of the season against Stoke City, Rotherham United, and Sunderland.
After traveling to Leicester City and Sheffield on Wednesday, Albion will host Preston North End on the last day with the hopes of securing a playoff berth and being ready for the semi-final first leg.
Because Phillips has been there and done it before, his experience might be extremely valuable in the closing moments of the Championship season. Additionally, his return to the club will greatly inspire his teammates.
With only a few games remaining before he plays in his 250th game for the Baggies, Phillips will also want to return to his best to commemorate his own personal achievement in the blue and white stripes. Since his current contract at the Hawthorns expires this summer, he will be making every effort to extend it.
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