West Brom have all but confirmed winger Mikey Johnston will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering an ankle stress fracture in the defeat to Oxford United.
Johnston is due to see a specialist later this week, where he will receive a full prognosis and establish a timescale for his return.
But stress fractures typically take six weeks to fully heal and with just eight weeks remaining until the final game of the season, it is extremely likely that is the last we see of the Republic of Ireland international this season.
Mikey Johnston West Brom’s biggest attacking threat
It’s a bitter blow for interim head coach James Morrison, who saw his side limp to yet another defeat on the road at the Kassam Stadium.
In the defeat, despite Johnston’s injury, he recorded the third-most touches in the opposition box, despite only playing 20 minutes before the injury. Top was Krystian Bielik with four, second was George Campbell with three.
It just shows how poor West Brom have been in attacking areas and why we create so few chances. Two defenders and a winger who played 20 minutes were the side’s biggest threat to fellow relegation rivals.
West Brom strikers have not scored a single league goal between them in 2026, and without Johnston, who has by far recorded the most assists this season, it looks set to become even more difficult for them.
Aune Heggebo last scored in December, Josh Maja last scored in October and Daryl Dike last scored in May.
Speaking after the game, Morrison described Johnston’s absence as a “big miss”.
He said: “The way the season’s going, it probably would be bad.
“When you’re down there, you get no luck, do you?
“He had the shot, he got to the byline, he won us some corners, he took his man on. He nearly got in on the break with their last-ditch tackle from our clearance. He was a threat, and then you just lose him. He was a big miss.”