West Bromwich Albion will be without defender Torbjorn Heggem for their Championship clash against Burnley at The Hawthorns after the Norwegian picked up a suspension. The Baggies are looking to maintain their strong home form, and head coach Carlos Corberan must reshuffle his backline to compensate for Heggem’s absence.
Heggem Suspension Forces Defensive Change
Heggem, who has been a regular in the West Brom defence this season, will miss the visit of Burnley after accumulating five yellow cards. The suspension means Corberan has to choose between a like-for-like replacement or a tactical shift. According to Birmingham World’s analysis, the most likely solution sees Callum Styles move to left-back, with Kyle Bartley and Mason Holgate forming the central defensive partnership.
Styles, who has been used in midfield and defence since joining on loan from Barnsley, is expected to slot in on the left side of the back four. This would allow Bartley to return to the starting XI after being rested in the previous match. Holgate, on loan from Everton, is set to continue alongside Bartley.
Predicted Starting XI and Formation
Based on the latest team news and Corberan’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, the predicted West Brom line-up is as follows: Alex Palmer in goal; a back four of Darnell Furlong, Kyle Bartley, Mason Holgate, and Callum Styles; a midfield double pivot of Jayson Molumby and Alex Mowatt; an attacking trio of Tom Fellows, John Swift, and Grady Diangana; and Josh Maja leading the line.
However, Birmingham World’s predicted XI opts for a slightly different attacking setup, with Fellows, Swift, and Mikey Johnston supporting Maja, while Diangana drops to the bench. This would give West Brom more width and directness, with Johnston’s pace and dribbling ability causing problems for Burnley’s defence.
Burnley Test and Team News
Burnley, who are pushing for automatic promotion, will provide a stern test for West Brom. The Clarets have one of the best defensive records in the division, and they will be confident of extending their unbeaten run. West Brom, however, have been formidable at home, and Corberan will be eager to extend that record.
In terms of other team news, West Brom have no fresh injury concerns from the midweek draw with Hull City. Daryl Dike remains a long-term absentee, while Semi Ajayi and Matt Phillips are also sidelined. Corberan may also consider handing a start to Brandon Thomas-Asante, but Maja is expected to keep his place after scoring in the last home game.
Kick-off at The Hawthorns is scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, with West Brom looking to close the gap on the top six. A victory would take them to within two points of the play-off places, while a defeat could see them slip further behind. The match is set to be a tight, tactical affair, and the absence of Heggem could prove decisive.
