UPDATE: West Bromwich Albion head coach Ryan Mason has confirmed a significant midfield boost ahead of their crucial match against Oxford United this weekend. Jayson Molumby, who has been sidelined with a muscle injury, returned to training and is in contention for selection, bringing hope to fans eager for a turnaround after a string of poor results.
In a press conference on Friday, Mason revealed that Molumby has successfully completed a light training session. The 26-year-old midfielder was called up for Republic of Ireland duty despite limited club appearances—just half an hour since the last international break. His ability to participate against Oxford will be confirmed later today, pending his performance in training.
Mason stated, “Jayson has trained with the team. He’s had one session, and we’re going to decide on him. Toby Collyer, the on-loan Manchester United midfielder, has also trained briefly after recovering from hamstring issues.” The coach emphasized the importance of assessing player readiness, especially after a recent match on Tuesday night.
Molumby incurred his muscle issue during World Cup qualifying games and aggravated it while substituting for the injured Collyer in a home victory against Preston last month. He is set to join the Irish squad next month for two crucial qualifiers, though he will miss the first match against Portugal due to suspension.
Mason addressed concerns about Molumby’s international call-up, saying, “No, it’s international football. I understand the pull of playing for your country. I’m a passionate Englishman. When I was called up to English squads, it was the best thing in the world.” He expressed optimism that by the time of the second game, Molumby would have regained fitness and confidence.
Currently, West Brom faces additional challenges with other absentees, including Jed Wallace (calf) and George Campbell (groin), who are not yet ready to return. As the team prepares for this weekend’s match, all eyes will be on the training session later today as fans hope for a revitalized performance against the struggling U’s.
The stakes are high for West Brom, and the return of key players could be pivotal in shifting their fortunes. Stay tuned for updates on squad decisions and lineup confirmations as the match approaches.
