da bet7： This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
da winzada777： West Bromwich Albion will be looking to continue their run at the top of the Championship this afternoon as they finally return to league action after a two-week hiatus.
The Baggies host Sheffield Wednesday at the Hawthorns knowing it will be no easy test with the south Yorkshire side sitting just three points outside of a playoff position, and quite possibly with a point to prove after their recent EFL charge.
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If Slaven Bilic is to give his side some more breathing room from the chasing pack, they’ll need to do so in the absence of midfield duo Jake Livermore and Romaine Sawyers.
Both players will be serving a one-match suspension.
On the Chalkboard
Yesterday, Football FanCast made the case for Filip Krovinovic to replace the summer arrival due to their similarities in the passing game, so it only seems right to offer up his midfield partner this time around.
Losing your industrious skipper is no easy feat, but it can be made easier by introducing a player in the same mould.
Chris Brunt has been at the club for just over 12 years now, and in recent times, mainly due to his advancing years, he has transitioned from a winger into a central midfielder.
He seems like the ideal man to temporarily replace Livermore against his former club too.
Throughout his career at the Hawthorns, the 34-year-old has proven to be a physical bulldog – he’s averaged 1.6 tackles per game over a ten season span, some of which was also in the Premier League.
Brunt has been capped 65 times at international level for Northern Ireland, so is there really a better option?
He also has averaged 1.1 aerial duels won per match in the same time frame, which is pretty good going for a midfielder.
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No midfielder in the current squad manages more tackles per game than Livermore at 2.1 while he also fouls the opposition the most too at an average of 1.5 times a game, via WhoScored.
Brunt may not have played much this season, but his 45 minutes in midweek were surely in preparation for this tie. He seems the most likely option to fill in.