West Brom defender Martin Kelly has returned to first-team training after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Experienced defender Kelly, 33, has returned to first-team training with West Brom after spending more than eight months out.
He joined Wigan Athletic on loan for the second half of last season and made an immediate impression, before a knee injury in the February curtailed his campaign.
But the Baggies posted a video on X of Kelly making his return to training, with his teammates giving him a guard of honour as he did so:
A long road to recovery…
Eight months out is a long time for any footballer. And the road is not yet complete for Kelly either, with the former Liverpool man now having to regain match fitness before he can come into consideration under Carlos Corberan.
But it’s certainly a step in the right direction for Kelly who signed a two-year contract with the Baggies ahead of last season, but who has made just five Championship appearances for the club since.
Martin has more than 150 Premier League appearances to his name with the bulk of those coming in a Crystal Palace shirt, having come through the ranks at Liverpool.
Where might Kelly fit in this West Brom XI?
Despite a number of key injuries this year and this season, West Brom are performing well.
Corberan is receiving high praise from Baggies fans and indeed from the the neutral supporter with his side up in 7th despite their injuries and despite a lack of investment.
But it seems like the defence is the least settled department.
West Brom’s midfield and attack often picks itself but Corberan has had to make a few changes to the defensive line up this season; changing centre-pairings and full-backs and what not.
Kelly is a right-back by trade and that’s a position that the Baggies have often been light in.
Pipa’s summer arrival gave some much-needed competition to Darnell Furlong in the summer and Kelly’s eventual return will give Corberan three solid options in that area.
But Kelly can also play as a centre-back. He could eventually become a kind of Erik Pieters-type player for West Brom in that his experience is deployed in the middle, allowing for wing-back type players to play on the flanks.
Nevertheless, Kelly’s inclusion in the side is a huge boost for West Brom; he adds a great degree of experience and that’s always vital for clubs chasing promotion.