A Comprehensive Injury Report Ahead of West Brom v Cardiff City Clash – 10 out and two doubts

West Brom is set for Championship action on Tuesday night as they host Cardiff City at The Hawthorns.

Following a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday, where they conceded a late equalizer to Omari Hutchinson, West Brom sits fifth in the Championship table. Tom Fellows opened the scoring for WBA in the first half, and John Swift retook the lead after Nathan Broadhead’s equalizer for Ipswich.

Despite maintaining their fifth position, West Brom now trails Ipswich by 11 points, and teams below them have closed the gap. Coventry City, just two points behind, secured a victory against Millwall, and Sunderland, with a win against Plymouth Argyle, could overtake WBA with an unfavorable result against Cardiff.

Cardiff faced a 2-0 defeat at home against Preston North End over the weekend, continuing their winless streak at home for two months. Losing six of their last eight home matches, Cardiff, with a win, could climb as high as 11th in the table and secure a position unassailable by those below them.

With the conclusion of the Asia Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations, West Brom should have their two key players back. Grady Diangana represented DR Congo, and Semi Ajayi reached the final with Nigeria, losing to Ivory Coast. Given West Brom’s small squad, manager Carlos Corberan might consider bringing them back into action immediately, as other clubs have done after international duty.

Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey made a comeback for Cardiff over the weekend after a four-month layoff. Coming on as a second-half substitute, Ramsey could be in contention for a starting role. The latest injury and team news, along with insights from Erol Bulut and Carlos Corberan about Daryl Dike and Mark McGuinness, will be crucial for the upcoming match.

1. Grady Diangana – available

He played for DR Congo on Saturday in an AFCON third-placed play-off. He is expected back this week. Could be given a chance off of the bench.

2. Semi Ajayi – doubt

He played for Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday. He might be needed on Tuesday night with the Baggies short on defensive options. It’ll be interesting to see what condition he’s in given the travelling he’ll have to do and the minimal day’s training with his club teammates.

3. Semi Ajayi – doubt (continued)

Carlos Corberan said on February 10: “No, as a club we need to make our best to bring the players immediately after the games they play, because the players have the commitment with the clubs. “They have accepted the international opportunities, but as soon as they finish they need to come here because the team needs both players right now. “Hopefully Semi comes back faster and ready to compete.

4. Mark McGuinness – out

He is out for up to two months with a hamstring problem. He had been ever present in the Championship for Cardiff up until the weekend.

5. Mark McGuinness – out (continued)

“It looks like he will be six to eight weeks out with injury,” said Erol Bulut on February 10. “He is 22 years old and had a great season until now. Now we don’t have him for the next games. I hope Nat (Phillips) and Dimi (Goutas) will manage it good together to be on the same level.

6. Callum O’Dowda – out

He had to undergo surgery on his groin back in September. He suffered a setback as he closed in on a return. Spotted in training last week but not fully fit yet.

7. Callum O’Dowda – out (continued)

“He was starting with us and then he got a small injury,” said Erol Bulut on January 14. “Because of the injury he had, that can happen. It happened to him. “Now it looks like six weeks (from today) until he’s back playing. We are not lucky with this.”

8. Kyle Bartley – out

Withdrawn at half-time in the 2-2 draw at Ipswich. Replaced by Nathaniel Chalobah.

9. Kyle Bartley- out (continued)

Carlos Corberan said on February 10; “I cannot tell you how long it (Bartley) can take but right now if you lose two weeks, you lose four games. So even if the injury is two weeks we are talking about four games and a half, that’s the pity for injuries in these games.”

 

10. Callum Robinson – doubt

Hasn’t been involved in a match-day squad with Cardiff since January 6. He was first out with a slight illness but has since missed the rest of the month and some of February.

11. Callum Robinson – doubt (continued)

Erol Bulut said on February 8: “Callum Robinson is running and doing well, but he’s not yet back with us for playing.”

12. Matt Phillips – out

Expected to miss most of the campaign now after suffering a hamstring injury in December. He underwent surgery to address the issue and is out until April.

13. Matt Phillips – out (continued)

“A player who is a more long-term injury but is progressing well is Matty Phillips,” Corberan said on February 3. “I don’t know when, but we expect he can be training with the group before we were thinking, so before the end of the season, if he follows his progress. “We don’t know, it is not good to plan. Long-term injuries…even if they are progressing well you cannot plan with them because it puts a level of pressure on them and the medical staff that they cannot commit (to), it’s impossible.”

14. Karlan Grant – out

Unable to play against his parent club. Spent the 2023/24 season on loan at the Bluebirds.

15. Martin Kelly – out

Kelly’s injury problems continue. He had been close to a return and was tiped to leave on loan but now is set for another prolonged period on the sidelines. He’s out and unable to train for another ten weeks because of a muscle problem.

16. Adam Reach – out

Carlos Corberan said on February 3 that Reach was set to return to training in 10 days to two weeks. His initial absence was meant to be four to six weeks, and so he could be eyeing a return against Southampton.

17. Josh Maja – out

He’s expected to miss the rest of the season. He required surgery after suffering damage to his ankle ligaments in December.

18. Jayson Molumby – out

He underwent surgery on his foot and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. WBA did try to replace him but could not secure a signing in his position.

19. Daryl Dike – out

Injured his Achilles against Ipswich Town. He had only just returned last month from the problem which kept him out for eight months. His teammates have sent him messages of support.

20. Daryl Dike – out

Carlos Corberan on February 10: “I still cannot give you confirmation, we need a scan. The injury is to the left foot, the same place as his Achilles injury. We don’t know if it is as serious as the previous injury. “You can imagine how he feels, I said to him we need to wait for the results. Everyone is affected when you see someone suffer an injury. “We are all going to wait for the results to see the damage. We will be with him, but we need to be patient. He had a similar feeling of his previous injury.”