As the top four teams in the Championship look to push away, West Bromwich Albion find themselves deep in a battle to maintain a playoff spot.
Only five points separate the Baggies in fifth position from Danny Rohl’s Sheffield Wednesday all the way down in 11th, with the intense fight to be in the top six showing no signs of relenting.
Tony Mowbray will be keeping everything crossed that his camp has enough to get over the line, with the more experienced heads such as John Swift coming in clutch in recent high-stakes contests.
Swift’s improved performances under Mowbray
Since Mowbray’s arrival back in the Hawthorns hot seat, the Baggies have steadily gone about their business, with the 61-year-old collecting four wins from ten overall games.
Whilst that form isn’t mind-blowing at first glance, it means the West Midlands side remain in the race to finish in the top six. Crucially, John Swift has at least managed to stand out with his electric displays under the fresh regime.
This sublime free-kick silenced the Burnley masses as West Brom managed to get the better of a formidable James Trafford, leading to Mowbray’s men coming away from the contest against Scott Parker’s staunch hosts with a point in hand.
Away from this outrageous strike, Swift has also picked up a further goal and two assists in league action under his new manager’s wing, turning around his waning Baggies career in extremely quick fashion.
Still, with the ex-Reading midfielder turning 30 this coming June in the same month his West Brom contract expires, it isn’t a foregone conclusion that he will be kept around at the Hawthorns past this summer.
Instead, the powers that be at West Brom might want some of the first team personnel to be freshened up, knowing full well the magic Mowbray can work with up-and-coming youngsters.
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The West Brom starlet who can end Swift’s career
Mowbray had access to a whole host of top starlets during his Sunderland tenure, with Chris Rigg given more and more first-team chances under the ex-Black Cats boss, on top of also being a guide to Jobe Bellingham when he first moved to Wearside.
West Brom have also been unafraid to chuck academy products into the first-team picture in recent seasons, with Tom Fellows now an established Championship star with 11 assists next to his name this season, having once just been a wide-eyed youngster climbing up the rankings.
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The next superstar that could burst onto the scene is Harry Whitwell, with the “fantastic” 19-year-old – as he has been described by youth coach Richard Beale – preparing to give West Brom a new and exciting body in attacking midfield that might make Swift’s departure more of a possibility.
After all – away from his sumptuous goal at Turf Moor – Swift is prone to a drop-off in form, with the 29-year-old failing to provide a single goal or assist in the Championship this season from his first 26 outings.
Whereas, this campaign in the Premier League 2, Whitwell has consistently put in top-drawer performances, with the starlet up to six strikes and two assists from 13 contests.
Capable of playing down the wings and as a striker too, it won’t be long before he’s leaving his mark on the senior side.
|
Whitwell’s G/A numbers for the U21s by position |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Position played in |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|
AM |
17 |
3 |
2 |
|
CM |
17 |
2 |
2 |
|
DM |
9 |
1 |
0 |
|
CF |
2 |
4 |
0 |
|
LM |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sourced by Transfermarkt |
|||
Whilst Swift is offering up moments of magic now, the 29-year-old might well find his game declines very soon. Whereas, with Whitwell, the Baggies could have next their Fellows-like ace.
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