Club News

Ismaël offers squad update ahead of 2022 opener

Grant Barnsley

Valérien Ismaël revealed he will have three regular first-team players back available for the visit of Cardiff City on Sunday afternoon (ko 2pm).

Karlan Grant and Alex Mowatt returned positive lateral flow tests ahead of Albion’s trip to Derby on December 27, while Matt Phillips has had to sit out of the club’s last four matches owing to injury.

But the boss says all three are in contention to face the Bluebirds, with defender Dara O’Shea also making “good progress” in terms of his recovery. 

Ismaël said: “We have some of our players back for Sunday’s game.

“Matt Phillips is back in training so that’s good news for us at the minute.

“Karlan Grant has been back since the middle of the week. His PCR test was negative.

“He missed the Derby game, as did Alex Mowatt. Alex will, as things stand, be fine for the game against Cardiff.

“Dara O’Shea is making very good progress on the pitch, as is Ken Zohore.

“We are in a good position in terms of injury progress and COVID-19.” 

  • Grant
  • Phillips
  • Mowatt
  • O'Shea
  • Zohore