Morrison could put Maja on the bench by releasing new West Brom player Matheus Pereira

West Bromwich Albion take on Bristol City away from home in the Championship this afternoon in the final game before the international break.

The Baggies will be hoping to go into the final international break of the season outside the relegation zone, and a win would ensure that is the case.

James Morrison's side are one point ahead of 22nd-placed Leicester City and two ahead of 23rd-placed Oxford United when they go into action this weekend.

West Brom would be sitting in third place in the bottom division right now had they not come away with a 3-0 win over Hull City at The Hawthorns last weekend.

Despite winning that game 3-0 against the 5th-placed side, Morrison may be looking to make tweaks to the starting line-up for this clash with the Robins.

A key change James Morrison could make against Bristol City

Another important change the interim head coach could make to the team would be to drop Josh Maja from the side to return to a 4-2-3-1, allowing an attacking player to come into the side.

While there are also tactical advantages to this change, allowing more creativity against a team with less than 50% possession per game in the division, it can also be done to avoid Maja's injury.

The Nigerian has missed 44 games through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign and has started just nine of 32 league games this season.

To make sure he's fit and available for the key game after the break, Morrison may manage his minutes and bench him for this game.

This could open the way for another player to come in and prove that they have what it takes to contribute to the team's survival in the Championship this season, including a potential star like the new Matheus Pereira.

West Brom could unveil their new Matheus Pereira

The Brazilian spent his first season at the club on loan from Sporting in the 2019/20 campaign before joining permanently in the summer of 2020, after returning with eight goals and 20 assists in the Championship in his first year at The Hawthorns.

Matheus finished his Baggies career with 20 goals and 26 assists in 77 games in all competitions, as an attacking midfielder or wide player who can deliver goals and assists regularly.

Now, winter loan signing Jamaldeen Jimoh could emerge as Morrison's version of Matheus if the manager releases him as a starter against Bristol City.

The 19-year-old attacker, on loan from Aston Villa, came off the bench against Hull to provide his first assist for the club, laying the ball for Aune Heggebo to score, showing signs of a potential partnership between the pair.

Jimoh has created two 'big chances' and 1.17 xA in just 266 minutes of Championship football since his loan spell, showing that he has the creative potential to be a Matheus-esque boss at the Baggies' end of the pitch.

The young star's record at Aston Villa's youth level also suggests there is more to come from him as a goalscoring threat, having scored 22 goals in 61 games for their academy.

Jimoh also scored his first senior goal for the Villans in the Europa League earlier this season, coming off the bench to score against RB Salzburg in January, shortly before his loan move to The Hawthorns.

If Morrison can unlock his best potential, the talented youngster could emerge as a key player for West Brom with his scoring prowess and regular assists.

Therefore, Jimoh could continue to follow in the footsteps of Matheus Pereira by bringing goals and assists as a former loanee, hopefully, completing a move in the summer, should Villa be willing to part ways with him.

In the meantime, however, Morrison should drop Maja to the bench to free the 19-year-old whiz as number ten behind Heggebo against Bristol City.

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