SM
Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid: 5 hrs 41 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

West Brom meet Sam Allardyce demands with two new signings on deadline day

:Headline: West Brom meet Sam Allardyce demands with two new signings on deadline day: ID:433308: from db_amp
The pair join Andy Lonergan, Robert Snodgrass and Mbaye Diagne in arriving at the midlands club.

West Brom have completed the deadline day loan signings of England international Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Turkey midfielder Okay Yokuslu.

The pair have moved to the Hawthorns for the rest of the season to aid the Baggies' battle against relegation from the Premier League, with the club 19th in the table ahead of Tuesday's trip to rock-bottom Sheffield United.

Maitland-Niles, capped five times by England, joins from Arsenal, while Yokuslu has come from Celta Vigo as they join Andy Lonergan, Robert Snodgrass and Mbaye Diagne in arriving at the midlands club in this transfer window.

"As a manager I would have liked them in quicker. Would it have made a difference? Who knows," said boss Sam Allardyce.

"The important thing is that we get them in the end because there are 17 games to go and hopefully points and wins will come more often than defeats – that will be the key element.

"His (Yokuslu's) strengths will help us. The only question to be worried about is, 'Can he do it straight away?'

"It's not the quality or ability of the players – it's about, 'Can he cope with the Premier League from the start?'

"We hope he can because we haven't got the time. There is a possibility that it won't happen but we have to take that chance with the quality of the player."

Turkey international Yokuslu is unlikely to feature at Bramall Lane, with Allardyce expected to name him on the bench for Sunday's trip to Tottenham.

He added: "It's unlikely I'll throw him straight into the mix. I've tried that once before and the player didn't cope. We don't want the whole of the outside world throwing criticism at him."

Former Leicester forward Ahmed Musa is also to arrive for a trial, delayed due to coronavirus protocols.

The Baggies are now nine points from safety after Brighton's 1-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday and Allardyce knows they must start winning ahead of Tuesday's trip to South Yorkshire.

"We're desperate to get three points at Sheffield United," he said. "We are both in the worst positions we can be in, so we have to go out and perform, be better than Sheffield United and take our chances when they arrive.

"Two points out of the two games against two teams around our area is not good enough to get us out of the problem we have.

"We had a great chance to win against Fulham, it's our fault we didn't win. All the lads had to do was defend properly.

"The battling qualities of the team encouraged me and the qualities they showed in the second half encouraged me.

"That fight and desire has to last for 90 minutes, not just 45.

"Historically 38 points has been enough (to stay up) and I think it'll be enough this year. Sooner or later we have to be the ones doing the winning when the others are losing."

amp_article__433308 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-02-01 23:46:59:
html db last update - 2021-03-09 11:39:19 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Okay Yokuslu

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .