Ally Robertson: Put trust in Matt Phillips to turn it on again soon
Matt Phillips was one of our most important players last season, particularly going forward, but he’s yet to replicate that form this time around.
It was actually this exact fixture away to Leicester that kick-started his campaign last year and hopefully we’ll see another reboot at the King Power Stadium on Monday night.
A fully-firing Phillips is a dangerous prospect in the Premier League, and he has the ability to drag this team that crucial 10 yards further up the pitch.
With Oliver Burke coming back from injury and James McClean’s heroics for the Republic of Ireland in midweek, there are plenty of options emerging on the wing for Tony Pulis.
But I think he should persevere with Phillips on the right, because he’s proven himself at this level more than either of those two.
I’d also stick with Chris Brunt on the other side. He offers more guile than the others, and his wily old ways enable him to keep possession.
He may not have the pace of some of his rivals, but he’s got more of a picture upstairs of what he wants to do when he’s on the ball and his set-pieces are gold-dust.
McClean is an impact substitute for me, a fantastic weapon to throw on in the second half when legs are weary and the last thing you want is an angry man from Derry snapping at your heels over and over again.
Burke too, is young and raw, and probably best off the bench right now until he gets himself up to speed.
Pulis may decide to start one or both of them at the King Power Stadium on Monday, and it could work out to be a master stroke.
The good thing is, this season, he has the options.
And it is going forward where he needs to focus the majority of his attention.
Albion have the best keeper in the league for my money, and a tight defence usually adept at frustrating the opposition.
Even though the team let a two-goal lead slip at The Hawthorns last time out, putting the ball in the other net is normally the problem.
Ahmed Hegazi has been a fantastic find and we all know how good Jonny Evans can be.
But if the Watford game proves anything, it’s that the Premier League has grown even more competitive this season.
Continue to sit deep this season, and we could be punished. Playing Phillips into form will help.
