West Brom could fix Wallace blow by unleashing “bright” teen

West Bromwich Albion supporters will head to Leeds United this coming weekend hopeful that their side can disrupt the flow of the table-topping Whites.

It will be easier said than done, however, with Daniel Farke’s men now ridiculously unbeaten in Championship action across a mammoth 16-game stretch, whilst Tony Mowbray’s Baggies continue to blow hot and cold with only two victories picked up themselves from their last five league outings.

To further add to the West Brom unease, the experienced figure of Jed Wallace is now sidelined through injury, but the playoff-chasers did manage fine without him in their last 2-0 win over Oxford United.

West Brom dealing with Wallace’s injury

Indeed, although Wallace had found his minutes limited under the previous regime, he had picked up a goal and an assist under Mowbray in league action before this injury setback occurred.

Still, his absence wasn’t really felt in the 2-0 victory over the U’s, as other experienced heads such as Alex Mowatt took control by bagging the opener, before the equally seasoned John Swift made sure of the three points at the death.

Moreover, Tammer Bany exploded into life in a Baggies strip from off the bench, with the former Randers FC man a revelation late on down the left channel when teeing up Swift for his game-clinching strike.

But, it’s down the right – where Wallace primarily plays – where the promotion hopefuls didn’t look quite as devastating when Grady Diangana was given a late run-out, with the ex-West Ham United attacker managing just five lacklustre touches.

Therefore, with Wallace missing for several weeks, it could be an apt moment for Mowbray to gamble with this Tom Fellows understudy, who could well become the club’s next on-fire homegrown winger if given time.

West Brom’s next Fellows

West Brom, of course, struck gold when gifting Fellows more regular senior opportunities just last season, with the constantly improving 21-year-old midfielder up to a breathtaking 11 assists this campaign in the second tier.

Therefore, the Baggies could hope history repeats itself with 19-year-old Akeel Higgins potentially being bumped up to the first team fold soon, having excited those at the Hawthorns already with his sublime U21 showings.

This season so far, Higgins has picked up one singular goal in Premier League 2 action – which was this stunning solo strike earlier in February – but he also has three assists next to his name to show off his unselfish approach when bursting forward, with an ambition to rival Fellows’ creativity if he is gifted a senior shot by Mowbray.

After all, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for the 61-year-old to throw the starlet into games moving forward, considering he worked alongside some top young assets in the form of Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham when still at the reins of Sunderland.

Looking at the table above, it does feel as if Higgins is overdue his moment in the first-team spotlight, with Fellows only needing 61 games for both the U18s and U21s before being unleashed into the senior picture.

Lauded as a “bright” prospect for the future by youth coach Richard Beale back in 2022, time will only tell if he can pass any forthcoming first team assessments with flying colours, having been gifted his senior debut already by Corberan last season.

Now, it could be coming together for Higgins to become the club’s next Fellows, with Mowbray perhaps catching more teams off-guard near the top of the division with the fresh and raw attacker in his ranks.

Related

West Brom struck gold on £0 signing who’s up there with the EFL’s best

West Bromwich Albion won this star for absolutely nothing.