Looks like there could be some changes in the team on their way.
And I’m not just talking about in the transfer market, but from the injury table as well. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s game against Sheffield Wednesday in the F.A Cup, manager Mark Warburton gave an update on a few of the players that have been out of action recently.
“Joe Lumley and Jordan Hugill are fit again. Yoann Barbet is out on the grass too and will be back in full training on Monday.”
And whilst Warburton gave a hint that he would be going with a strong team against the Owls whilst at the same time making a few tweaks, whoever he does pick will essentially be put through a bit of an audition to make their cases for the first team afterwards, particularly at the back.
Before his injury Barbet was a regular in the first-team, starting 12 games before suffering a muscle injury back in October, but the fact that he was a regular means that Warburton clearly trusts him and believes that he should still be a regular when he comes back.
So it’s going to be crucial that whoever does get picked to play at the back that they do enough to convince Warburton otherwise.
None more so than Conor Masterson, who has been thrown a lifeline by Warburton in regards to his future in West London, but one bad performance and he could take a huge step back in that area and find himself back on the bench or even heading out on loan if he’s deemed not up to the task.
Will Masterson be a first-team regular for the rest of the season?
Yes
No
Because there’s a ready-made replacement lurking in the background if he does slip up, so it will be pretty easy for the manager to make the switch if he thinks it will be best for the club.
