Baggies boss waiting on loan signings
Wednesday 24th March 2010, 11:29AM GMT.
Albion will wait until deadline day before deciding whether to make a final plunge into the transfer market.
Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo will assess his squad’s fitness after tonight’s meeting with Coventry before making a final decision on possible loan signings.
Clubs have until 5pm tomorrow to make emergency loan signings for the final weeks of the season but Di Matteo is happy to stick with his current squad providing he gets a positive injury bulletin after tonight’s match.
“I think I’m going to wait until after this game and then assess the squad,” said Di Matteo today.
“I’ll see what happens tonight and speak to the medical staff.
“We know more or less when the injured players should be back and we’ll make a decision based on that.
“If everyone is fit or close to fitness then I think I’m happy with what I have.
“It’s difficult to bring someone in at this stage of the season.
“I don’t think we’ll find what we want anyway.
“There is always a concern when you bring a loan player in because they have usually not been playing at their club.
“That’s why they come here to play and get game minutes.
“Also, you haven’t been able to work with them over a long time so there is always a bit of a concern there.
“But I think we’ve been quite lucky and quite good in picking the players for us so far.”
Di Matteo has on-loan Steven Reid available again tonight after a groin problem but Marek Cech has joined the injury list.
Jonas Olsson (calf) is still missing but has a chance of recovering for Saturday’s trip to Reading while Roman Bednar (thigh) is still further away from a return.
“Marek Cech is out with a groin strain so he won’t feature,” said Di Matteo.
“Steven Reid returns from injury and is available for tomorrow night.
“Marek has a grade one strain so will be out for between 10 to 14 days.
“Jonas is ahead of Roman.”
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Roberto Di Matteo could do with bringing in
a versatile defender due to current injury
problems,midfeild and strikers are fine and
could make do until end of season.
MY ALBION TEAM FOR COV:
Carson
Zuiverloon Tamas Meite Reid
Brunt Watson Mulumbu Dorrans Thomas
Moore.
SUBS:Kiely
Mattock
Morrison
Koren
Barnes
Miller
Cox.
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Totally right Roberto – concentrate on the game tonight and worry about loan players tomorrow. Three points tonight is more important right now.
Also wonder if he thinks that any of the Pompey players are good enough now that they are up for sale.
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CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF THE SEASON:
GK.STEVE HARPER-Newcastle Utd.
RB.GONZALO JARA-Westbromwich Albion.
CB.SHAUN BARKER-Derby County.
CB.STEPHEN TAYLOR-Newcastle Utd.
LB.JOSE ENRIQUE-Newcastle Utd.
LW.PETER WHITTINGHAM-Cardiff City.
CM.CHARLIE ADAM-Blackpool.
CM.GRAHAM DORRANS-Westbromwich Albion.
RW.JONAS GUTIERREZ-Newcastle Utd.
ST.MICHAEL CHOPRA-Cardiff City.
ST.ANDY CARROLL-Newcastle Utd.
The Express & Star should run a competition
and I bet mine would win.
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