Tony Mowbray on the lookout for West Brom goalkeepers to “struggle it out”

Former primary Alex Palmer departed on a deadline day transfer to Ipswich City in a deal price as much as £5million as Albion moved to convey promising Josh Griffiths, 23, again from mortgage at Bristol Rovers.

Griffiths will compete with the Baggies’ different senior goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith for a begin at house to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday lunchtime and for the rest of the season.

Mowbray remained tight-lipped about his resolution to face the Owls however throughout his Friday morning press convention hinted that final summer time’s free switch Wildsmith might have the nod as a result of he has been a robust performer and common in coaching because the head coach made his return to The Hawthorns three weeks in the past.

“I believe we’re nonetheless fairly sturdy (in aim) – I do know there is a debate about who’s going to play this week, Wildsmith or Josh Griffiths? It is good we have got competitors,” mentioned Mowbray.

“I would really like them to struggle it out actually. However any individual’s received to begin this week, let’s examine what occurs within the subsequent recreation and the subsequent recreation.

“We did not convey Josh again and provides him the primary shirt, I believe you have to earn it in my thoughts. I’ve received no drawback them having completely different numbers after which some stage – perhaps the beginning of subsequent season – we’ve to have a primary.

“I’ve solely watched on video Griffiths’ goalkeeping, classes and enjoying at Bristol. Joe has been right here in each assembly, each coaching session, labored actually arduous, let’s examine how they compete and who will get the primary for subsequent season.”

Griffiths was this week assigned the quantity 20 shirt on his return from the League One Gasoline, the place the academy product excelled this season.

Wildsmith, who left Derby final summer time to examine in as a free switch, wears 23. His appearances have been restricted to cup motion, the August EFL Cup defeat at Fleetwood and final month’s 5-1 FA Cup exit at Bournemouth.

The 29-year-old is Sheffield born and got here by way of the junior ranks at Wednesday, his boyhood membership. His final Championship soccer got here for Wednesday within the 2020/21 lockdown marketing campaign.

Griffiths has 159 membership appearances to his title regardless of a young age, however simply 10 have been within the second tier.

Mowbray added of his resolution: “I solely met him (Griffiths) two days in the past, he is a giant presence however nonetheless a boy from what I can see.

“It is troublesome for me to go ‘you’ve got been enjoying for Bristol Rovers, superior, let’s get you in our aim’.

“I’ve seen Joe practice day by day, he retains the ball out the online usually. I do not sit right here considering ‘I hope I haven’t got to play the quantity two’ and I have been at golf equipment the place I’ve had that.

“I believe we have got two goalies who can compete to be primary and whoever misses out can be unlucky.”

Mowbray felt the choice to promote Ipswich made sense for all events.

He mentioned: “The very first thing I am going to say is I am completely satisfied for Alex. He is been on the membership a very long time. He was a little bit bit uncertain. Final yr there was a chance for him to go elsewhere and he did not.

“After the primary dialog he got here again in, shut the door and shook my hand and mentioned he was going. I believe it is good for him, he’ll the Premier League. Who does not wish to go to the Premier League?

“He felt it was the appropriate factor for him. Was it the appropriate factor for the membership? Whenever you take all the things into consideration, all of the monetary issues – sure.

“If it did assist herald Tammer (Bany) as an illustration, or (Adam) Armstrong’s wage, then it is smart to me. Typically you need to let one go so as to add in different areas.”