Albion manager Tony Mowbray believes Baggies new boy Jay Simpson will emerge as a striker at the Hawthorns.
The on-loan Arsenal youngster is poised for a potential Premier League debut at Villa on Saturday, after making his debut as a sub on the right flank in the FA Cup draw with Peterborough.
Mowbray believes the 20-year-old will produce his best form, if he edges out Roman Bednar or Luke Moore and gets a chance in his preferred position.
The Baggies boss said: “His natural position is centre forward. He’s best down the middle, where he can run in behind teams and be ‘slipped in’ from the side.
“He uses his body well, so he has no problems holding the ball up and getting it played into him.
“I’d suggest he’s a centre forward. The decision on where to play him on Saturday was two-fold. Robert Koren hadn’t been feeling well and I felt the game needed
livening up, so we threw Jay on as an extra striker coming in off the right to give us something different.
“That’s a role he can play.”
Mowbray revealed he is planning to use Simpson at some stage during Saturday’s visit to Villa Park.
The Hawthorns chief said: “[Last] Saturday was a difficult game for anybody to play in. I hope he plays some role at Villa. He’s here to make an impact.
“I hope he will be a big plus for us. He showed flashes of his mobility, pace and hunger to play for the team [against Peterborough]. Strikers need a break and hopefully he’ll get a goal soon.”
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6 Comments
Yes!
Hopefully more than one eh Tone??
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HOPE OUR MIDFIELDERS ARE IN TUNE WITH YOUR IDEAS TONE AND LEARN TO “SLIP HIM IN” MORE QUICKLY THAN THEY HAVE DONE FOR LUKE AND ROMAN SO FAR THIS SEASON.
He was ready against Peterborough but Valero ignored him and chose to shoot and miss!!
Very quick service is needed. Not the slow ponderous stuff we have had up to now!
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Like so many young ‘loan’ players, he could be great or a waste of space. We had Carlton Cole from Chelsea when in the premiership on loan and he was as he has become - a striker who doesn’t score much. One thing is for sure - if he begins scoring Wenger will have him back for his own team pronto.
Your managers put a lot of pressure on him by his quotes. Not fair really - he’s going to find life hard. However, good luck anyway.
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come on jay boy bust the back of the villa net and become an instant hero,,,,,hiya tel mate c ya for some sherbutts pretty soon bud….STAYING IN THE PREM THE MOWBRAY WAY,,OOOOOOOOOOOOH YES..
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Another quality player who Mowbray will stick on
the bench all season,he has to start against
Villa aspecially with all our injury problems.
I`d even play Marek Cech at centre-half instead
of Barnett who is a libility,seen the guy play
there for Porto and done a good job.
MY WESTBROMWICH ALBION TEAM FOR VILLA:
Carson,Hoefkens,Cech,Olsson,Robinson,
Greening,Valero,Koren,Simpson,Kim,Bednar.
If Zuiverloon and Morrison get past fit I`d go.
Carson,Zuiverloon,Cech,Olsson,Robinson,
Morrison,Valero,Koren,Greening,Simpson,Bednar.
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Strikers thrive on pressure, that is what makes it exciting
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