Tony Mowbray reveals Karlan Grant talk and sets him a West Brom challenge
Tony Mowbray has challenged Karlan Grant to regain his place in the West Bromwich Albion starting XI after finding himself out of the side despite his string of impressive performances prior to Mowbray's return to The Hawthorns. Grant looked to have little future when he returned himself from Cardiff City in the summer but, to his credit, he transformed his own fortunes.
Under Carlos Corberan, Grant became an important player in the first half of the season, scoring six goals and registering two assists, rediscovering his best form in the final third to complement top scorer Josh Maja. After Mowbray's first game in charge, the defeat at Middlesbrough, Grant found himself back among the substitutes.
There were whispers on transfer deadline day that Championship clubs elsewhere were eager on taking Grant, undoubtedly having taken in his performances this term, on a loan basis as Albion themselves deepened their pool of attacking options further with the additions of Adam Armstrong, Tammer Bany and Will Lankshear.
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For Mowbray, the equation is quite a simple one for Grant, who has, for now at least, relinquished his hold on the position on the left hand side of Albion's attack, which has since been taken up by teammate Mikey Johnston - show the boss that you cannot be ignored with performances and training efforts.
"If you were a footballer and I'm saying to you 'come through the door and have a chat'...I've said to them ten times in the last two weeks, if you have any questions," Mowbray said. "I did, I used to go and talk to the manager. I'm the guy that if you come and ask me, I'll tell you. I did speak to Karlan and I think he appreciated the honesty.
"He told me what he thinks is his best role in the team and what he should be doing and that he thinks he's had a good season and he's been left out of the last few starts. Like anything, I need to see it. It's no good three or four weeks ago, when I wasn't here, you were doing this, scored that and made this - show me, mate. I need to see it. Don't sulk, I want you to be the best player in training everyday, so that I'd be stupid not to put you in the team.
"That's how I want them to react. It's like anything. Show me, if I've taken you out of the team for any reason...bottom line, I could say we scored five in the game you were left out. You played against Stoke, against Middlesbrough, we changed the team and scored five goals in the next one - what do you want me to do? Get yourself back in - make me think 'God, Karlan has got the bit between his teeth'. He's reacted well, so watch this space for Karlan Grant."
