West Bromwich Albion midfielder Alex Mowatt is set to be recalled to the matchday squad for the visit of Burnley after head coach Carlos Corberan confirmed the player responded positively to being left out of the previous game.
Mowatt was an unused substitute in the Baggies' last outing, a 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, with Corberan opting for other options in midfield. The Spanish coach has now revealed that the 29-year-old's reaction in training has been exactly what he wanted to see, paving the way for his return at The Hawthorns.
Corberan explains Mowatt omission
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Corberan said: "I needed to see a reaction from him, and I got the reaction I was looking for. He has trained very well this week and is available for selection."
The former Leeds United man has made 14 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once, but has found starts hard to come by in recent weeks. His last league start came in the 1-1 draw with QPR at the end of November.
Burnley arrive in the West Midlands on the back of a 2-0 home win over Bristol City, which moved them up to second in the Championship table. West Brom sit fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Watford but behind on goal difference.
Team news and selection decisions
Corberan has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash, with the only absentee being long-term casualty Daryl Dike. The American striker continues his rehabilitation from a calf problem and is not expected back until the new year.
Mowatt's potential return could see him compete with Jayson Molumby and Okay Yokuslu for a starting berth in central midfield, with John Swift operating in a more advanced role. The Baggies boss has rotated his midfield throughout the festive period to manage workloads.
Burnley, under Vincent Kompany, have been the division's form side, winning seven of their last nine league games. They have also kept five clean sheets in their last six away matches, making them a formidable opponent for Albion.
What the game means
A win for West Brom would move them level on points with second-placed Burnley, while a defeat could see them slip to seventh if results elsewhere go against them. The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday at The Hawthorns.
Corberan added: "Burnley are a very good team with a clear identity. We know the challenge ahead of us, but we are focused on our own performance and getting the three points."
