Sam Johnstone left out of West Brom squad despite return from ban

Sam Johnstone has been left out of the West Brom squad to face his former club Preston North End at The Hawthorns on Wednesday evening.

Goalkeeper Johnstone had returned to contention again this week after serving the third of his three-match suspension in Albion’s 3-0 win over Peterborough United over the weekend, and many connected with the club anticipated his immediate restoration to the starting XI in the place of David Button.

Button, though, keeps his place. Indeed there is no sign of Johnstone in the match-day 18, with Alex Palmer remaining on the bench for another Championship outing.

BirminghamLive understands that Johnstone’s absence is NOT related to the transfer window, nor has it anything to do with a fresh injury or Covid issue. Valerien Ismael will be pressed on the matter post-match.

Midfielder Alex Mowatt, who has also been banned since the Cardiff City draw at the beginning of January, the afternoon on which Johnstone was sent off after the final whistle for his part in the fracas which ensued, returns to the fold as expected.

Ismael confirmed that Jordan Hugill, another former Preston player, wouldn’t feature in his plans going forwards despite the injury to Daryl Dike. Albion are instead looking for a loan agreement before Monday’s transfer deadline passes to find a short-term fix.

Further afield, Grady Diangana is rewarded with a start in place of Dike, after his inspired cameo on Saturday.

West Bromwich Albion

Button; Furlong, Kipre, Bartley, Townsend, Reach; Livermore, Mowatt, Diangana, Grant, Phillips

Subs: Palmer, Clarke, Molumby, Gardner-Hickman, Fellows, Robinson, Faal

Preston North End

Iversen, Van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes, Cunningham, Whiteman, Potts, Browne, Ledson, Riss, Evans

Subs: Ripley,