DERBY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Darnell Furlong of West Bromwich Albion applauds the West Bromwich Albion fans after the 0-2 defeat in the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County FC and West Bromwich Albion FC at on December 26, 2024 in Derby, England. (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)
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Tony Mowbray plans Wolves scouting mission as he confirms plan for West Brom pair
West Brom under 21s take on Wolves at Kidderminster Harriers on Monday night and Tony Mowbray is likely to include a couple of first-team players
West Brom’s lesser spotted pair Gianluca Frabotta and Devante Cole are in line to feature for the club’s under 21s at Aggborough in the Premier League 2 as Albion’s under 21s take on their Wolverhampton Wanderers counterparts at the home of Kidderminster Harriers on Monday evening.
Left-back Frabotta hasn’t started a league game since joining the club from Serie A giants Juventus in the summer, and his last appearance all told was as a late substitute in the New Year’s Day win over Preston North End. Striker Cole, meanwhile, has played just 42 minutes spanning three appearances under Mowbray.
Competition for places in their respective positions has been stiff; Frabotta has found himself behind Callum Styles and, prior to that, Torbjorn Heggem, while Cole has been behind Josh Maja this term – and now finds extra rivals in January additions Will Lankshear and Adam Armstrong.
With opportunities thin on the ground for both players in the Championship, Mowbray – who watched Semi Ajayi and Daryl Dike at Solihull Moors in the 3-1 PL2 win over Newcastle United last Monday – is set to do so again this coming Monday, with the plan being that Frabotta and Cole feature against Wolves in the club’s local derby.
“He is probably thinking ‘what’s going on’,” Mowbray said of Frabotta. “I like Callum [Styles], I like his versatility is really good for the team, but I need to see Frabotta. I can bring under 21s over in training and put him one on one with Bostock and let’s see what your left footed crossing is like, but I’d prefer to watch it in a game and see what he is like in big spaces.
