The African Cup of Nations starts in January next year, and for West Brom, it could mean losing a key player.
As ever, AFCON will bring together some of the best players in the world. But it also means a number of teams losing key players at a key point in the season.
And West Brom may well be impacted by AFCON with Grady Diangana‘s DR Congo having qualified.
The 25-year-old made his debut for the Congo national team last month, and was on the bench for their game vs Mauritania last night.
It comes amid a strong vein of form for Diangana who’s so far featured 11 times in the Championship this season, with two goals and three assists to his name.
Both of his goals came last month with Carlos Corberan currently getting the best out of Diangana who’s received mixed reviews from Baggies fans in the past.
But he’s bang in form right now and his likely absence for a month in the New Year could be devastating for Corberan.
West Brom’s secret weapon…
Diangana’s presence on the wing will certainly need replacing.
Given the Baggies’ ongoing financial issues, it seems unlikely that the club will bring in or loan in a direct replacement, so Corberan may be forced to look within.
And summer signing Jeremy Sarmiento could be the ideal candidate.
The Colombian has had a stop start season owing to injury but made his return just before the break, making substitute appearances against both Hull City and Southampton.
He’s now made 11 Championship appearances for the Baggies and has one goal to his name, though Corberan is yet to entrust him with his first start.
Could Sarmiento be a Diangana replacement?
The two players certainly share a lot of the same traits.
Both are tricky wingers capable of playing on either flank, and Sarmiento has definitely shown that he’s a positive player who wants to drive forward and who wants to attack the goal.
He’s a player with great pace too, so his energy could make for an ideal replacement should Diangana jet away for AFCON next year.
It’d be a big ask for Sarmiento to come in and replace Diangana’s presence. But the Colombian has some time to get up to speed and to impress Corberan enough for the Spaniard to entrust Sarmiento with the role.
West Brom return to Championship action vs Ipswich Town after the international break.