West Bromwich Albion face a hugely important game towards the bottom of the Premier League table.
West Brom will know it is hugely important that they end their long wait for a win in the Premier League when they face Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday – with Mark Hughes’ men’s form even more alarming right now.
Following their defeat to Manchester United last weekend, Alan Pardew’s side are now second-bottom in the top flight, two points off safety. And, having not won since August, it is looking increasingly likely that they will be involved in the fight to avoid relegation this term.
Stoke meanwhile, are the team directly above the bottom three and go into the clash with the Baggies having lost five of their last six – only taking three points off bottom club Swansea during that run – and conceding 15 goals in those five games.
With the Potters looking completely bereft of confidence right now, it would be no surprise if West Brom made a handful of changes to the side that lost to Manchester United on Sunday and looked to try and get onto the front foot against Hughes’ side.
With that in mind, we are expecting Pardew to pick a more attacking lineup and switch to the 4-3-3 system that he used during the early stages of his tenure when the Baggies often looked a lot brighter.
Both Hal Robson-Kanu and Jay Rodriguez may well come back into the side to form a front three with Salomon Rondon, while Gareth Barry may replace Grzegorz Krychowiak in the middle of the park.
That would also see James McClean and Oliver Burke drop out of the team and onto the substitutes’ bench from where they may be able to make an impact during the latter stages of the contest.
With that in mind, here is a look at the lineup in full…
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