Youssouf Mulumbu set for West Brom recall
West Brom boss Alan Irvine insists Youssouf Mulumbu is ready for a recall against Arsenal - after criticising his own performances in a clear-the-air meeting.
The pair have held talks after Mulumbu raised eyebrows with a cryptic tweet, when he was left out of the match-day squad for Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea.
And Mulumbu could even start against the Gunners in tomorrow's 12.45pm clash, with Claudio Yacob suspended and James Morrison a doubt because of illness.
Irvine said: "I spoke to Youssouf about the football side of things and he didn't expect to play last week.
"The tweet wasn't something done in frustration. He swears he didn't expect to play.
"He actually was quite hard on himself in terms of how he evaluated his performances this season, which is refreshing in one way but you have to try to pick them up again.
"Far from feeling aggrieved he was actually quite self-critical and I found myself trying to lift him and tell him he's a good player, which I believe he is.
"He has trained very well all week and done a smashing job really."
[comments_cta header="What do you think?" text="Is Youssouf Mulumbu ready for a West Brom recall?" button="Log in and start commenting"]
Mulumbu tweeted: "In the stands. Loool." after being omitted from the squad at Stamford Bridge.
And Irvine has spoken to the DR Congo international about his use of social media.
The Scotsman said: "I spoke to him and he assured me that being disrespectful wasn't his intention.
"We speak to lads regularly about social media and the dangers. We have had the usual meeting at the start of the season and another one after the start.
"Sometimes they seem to think it's a private way of communicating and clearly it isn't. Youssouf knows he shouldn't have done it."
Morrison might miss out tomorrow after being laid low while Jonas Olsson (Achilles) is out, but Sebastien Pocognoli (hamstring) is back in training and is expected to play against the Gunners.
[related_posts title="More on Youssouf Mulumbu"]
