The Big Kick-Off: West Brom boss Carlos Corberan looking to surprise a few amid off-field issues

Albion’s plight is clear. For those not quite certain about the club’s financial footing, the accounts to June 2022 painted a miserable outlook.

That reality has hit home this summer. Supporters watched and waited agonisingly as clubs up and and down the pyramid added to their ranks. Championship rivals, those Corberan’s men are supposed to compete with, spent millions.

As the accounts dictated, Albion were required to sell to buy. A painful and difficult situation further hampered by the prospect of just four senior players out of contract in a desperate bid to balance the books this summer. It all comes amid the backdrop of Guochuan Lai looking for a sale after seven years at the helm.

Selling a key player in Dara O’Shea won’t help next season’s cause but the £7million received – which could be more in a different climate – will help Albion overall. Karlan Grant shuffled out on loan to save on wages was also a boost. More, ideally, will follow.

Not on that ideal list would have been goalkeeper Alex Palmer, who looked set to exit for Premier League new-boys Luton until the move broke down last night. The No.1’s exit would have served as another harsh reality check for Baggies fans and the scope of the test facing Corberan. He can breathe for now, but it is tough to plan when players go from beneath you.

All of that, with no additions until last week, is why expectations for the Championship campaign of 2023/24 are not as lofty as in the past couple of years.

There has been, at least, a much-needed lift in the recruitment department in recent days and ahead of the big kick-off at Blackburn’s Ewood Park on Saturday. Jeremy Sarmiento’s loan from Brighton has the potential – though it must be delivered on – of sparkling Albion’s attack into life and bringing some much-needed potency.