According to BBC, Championship club West Bromwich Albion have signed Mason Holgate on a loan deal until the end of the season. The defender has joined from his parent club, Everton. The versatile defender was struggling for game time at Goodison Park since the acquisitions of Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne from Barcelona in the summer.
The 22-year-old has made 48 senior appearances for Everton since arriving from Barnsley in the summer of 2015. This season, the former England U21 international made five Premier League appearances, including one in the EFL Cup and one in the Premier League 2, totalling just 576 minutes.
A move to the Championship should help resuscitate the youngster’s flailing career. He needs minutes for his development and a drop down the division could most likely see him clock those valuable minutes.
West Brom are firmly in the promotion picture. The Baggies are fourth with 46 points after 26 games and are only two points behind Norwich City, who occupy the last automatic promotion side. The Hawthorns Stadium side is five points off league leaders Leeds United. Darren Moore’s charges are the division’s highest scoring side, having breached opposition defences 54 times so far.
Worryingly, however, West Brom alongside Norwich have conceded the most goals of any club in the top six, shipping in 34 goals. On average, the promotion hopefuls are conceding 1.31 goals a match. Out of the teams in the top half of the table, only Aston Villa have let in more goals.
The acquisition of a Premier League defender will help bolster West Brom defence as they look for a quick return to the top flight. Mason Holgate can play at centre-back or at right-back, thus adding squad depth and cover for Darren Moore’s side.
Strong in the air and a good dribbler and passer, the Doncaster-born Holgate can help shore up West Brom’s leaky defence. His ability to ping long balls forward could help set up attacks for his side. Tough on the tackle and able to clear the ball out of defence, the 22-year-old has all the tools needed to play a pivotal role in the Baggies’ promotion chase.
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Holgate can also hold on to the ball excellently and deliver dangerous crosses into the opposition box while playing at right-back. By signing Mason Holgate on a loan deal, West Brom have pulled off a shrewd move which could potentially boost their promotion chances.
