Sarmiento only short-term solution up front for Carlos

CARLOS CORBERAN believes Jeremy Sarmiento can step up and help solve West Brom’s striker crisis.

The Baggies chief has been left reeling after serious injuries to Matt Phillips and Josh Maja in the past week – both will be missing for four months.

But the on-loan Brighton winger, 21, has stepped into the void and Corberan says he can provide the spark up front to make good that loss – although the

Spaniard still wants to add one replacement next month.

West Brom’s head coach said: “Jeremy is not a striker – not in my mind, no, but I can see him as a No.10.

“Hopefully I don’t have to play him as a No.9 – not because he can’t, but no, I see him more as a wide player. He’s a player who loves a one versus one.

“He’s someone who needs to dribble. So I think, for me, he should be outside rather than inside.

“What I also see in him is something different. I see a passion. And I Iove passion because you can manage it.

“When there’s a lack of something, it’s difficult to add it. When there is an excess of something, it’s easier to fix.”

Today’s visitors Stoke have not yet confirmed a successor to Alex Neil with former Birmingham boss John Eustace among the frontrunners to fill the post.

Caretaker Paul Gallagher said: “We have done our analysis on West Brom and they are a good team.

“But we need to be on the front foot, show grit and determination and play with more belief on the ball.

“That was the only negative of the Swansea performance. The lads were gutted to only get a point.

“We need to be brave in and out of possession in a local derby, which we know means a lot to the supporters for the bragging rights.”