Carlos Corberan could solve big West Brom issue by taking Devante Cole, Josh Maja action | OneFootball

Expectations rise on Devante Cole as West Brom continue to struggle, and Carlos Corberan does not see him as an answer.

What may have initially appeared as a shrewd signing for promotion contenders West Bromwich Albion is becoming more concerning as the striker continues to find opportunities hard to come by whilst the Baggies' struggles continue.

The arrival of 29-year-old free agent Devante Cole in the summer transfer window is one that perplexed West Brom fans even at its announcement.

Questions were raised about the age of the forward, who has only managed to truly showcase his capability as a marksman in his past two years.

The former Barnsley striker registered 15 goals in 2022/23 and an impressive 18 in 2023/24, helping the Tykes to finish in the League One play-offs in both years and finished third in the 2023/24 golden boot race (Flashscore).

In both of these seasons, the number nine also outperformed his xG of 13.46 in 2022/23 and 16.25 in 2023/24 (FotMob), showing his ability to thrive as a goalscorer with minimal service, a service that logically would have increased the with Cole's step-up to the second tier.

The Baggies themselves have also failed to see a striker register in the top five of the league's highest scorers since Dwight Gayle in the 2018/19 season, and as their xG rises to 16.4 versus their actual tally of 14 (all stats from Fbref), Cole's clinical prowess seems a logical fix.

But as West Brom have found the net only twice in their last six games and Daryl Dike's West Brom return is pushed back yet again, it is concerning that the 29-year-old has only managed to find a way onto the pitch once for the senior side since August.

The key concern surrounding his summer move to The Hawthorns seems to be rooted in reality, that maybe the move up in tier is one he is not quite ready for.

Championship step-up too much for Devante Cole

In his limited time on the pitch, the pace of the division is something the former Tykes man has appeared out-of-depth with, especially considering the build-up responsibility Carlos Corberan expects of his man leading the line.

This season's West Brom high-flyer, Josh Maja, has garnered such appreciation from fans not purely for his startling eight goals in 13 games (stat from FlashScores), but from his dynamic and combative movement in the middle of the park, being economical in possession and holding the ball up for the destructive pace of Tom Fellows to penetrate opposition backlines.

Although Cole hasn't been given the chance to prove this ability in the blue and white stripes, his stint in the red gives a fair indication of this being outside the striker's traditional arsenal.

In comparing Cole's possession and passing stats from last season, he lacks the application of Josh Maja in the centre of the pitch and does not utilise the ball anywhere near as efficiently or creatively as a multi-faceted number nine needs to in this system.

He actually ranked in the bottom 4.6% for successful passes per 90 made by strikers in last year's League One campaign, and in the bottom 25% for pass accuracy (stats from FotMob).

Considering these numbers were also taken from Cole's time in the league below, it should be no surprise the former Barnsley man has not managed to become a mainstay in Carlos Corberan's side.

As Cole seems completely out of tune with Corberan's playing style, and Baggies' premier outlet, Maja, continues his fine form with another return at Kenilworth Road, a January loan move may seem logical in an attempt to at least preserve the value of the former prolific goalscorer.

But with Daryl Dike's return pushed back into the new year, the exit of Carlos Corberan's only back-up number nine is one he simply cannot afford.

A switch of system could bring Cole into the side and the Baggies into the goals

With a January loan unlikely and West Brom needing an immediate fix to gain their first three points since September, an improvised positional switch-up could refresh the predictability the Baggies have fallen victim to over recent weeks and once again make them one of the league's trickiest to play.

This is possible by including both Josh Maja and Devante Cole within the starting XI, a prospect Carlos Corberan discussed with BBC WM.

He said: "We have Cole as another specific striker and he can play with Maja too, but it's true that in the decisions I am making he has been more times not involved with the team than involved.

"There have been possibilities to do this before and probably this is something I can regret, that I haven't used him more".

Corberan's admission of his own regret at Cole's lack of involvement is one that can give the 29-year-old encouragement, and also signal a potential imminent change in his fortunes.

The shifting of Maja to the number ten role, allowing Cole to occupy the number nine, would not only solve Baggies' issues in finding a suitor for the playmaking position but would also capitalise on both strikers' strengths.

Although Maja has not found difficulty hitting the net this season for West Brom, dropping the Nigerian deeper would take advantage of his impressive possession and passing stats seen in the table previously, managing more successful passes per 90 than 91.4% of Championship strikers (as per FotMob).

This would also allow the deployment of Cole's impressive speed and aerial ability, something the Baggies have not possessed since Dike's suspended stint on the sideline.

Cole's 2.47 aerial duels won per 90 ranked higher than 84.3% of League One strikers last season and is a rare department the 29-year-old exceeds heavily over Maja.

As Fellows seeks to add to his joint-leading assist tally, a towering and powerful presence in the box could prove vital in refreshing Albion's attacking outlets while he joins the winger as a fast figure to make defences nervous.

In a system that reorganises and adds another dimension to the West Brom final third, Corberan may be able to find use for the former Tykes marksman and unleash a creative outlet in Maja.

As they go in search of a vital three points to keep them in the play-off race, experimentation could prove fruitful by the time the curtains close in May next year.