Baggies’ Phillips fired up
FLYING WINGER DETERMINED TO SHOOT FOR TOP SEVEN AHEAD OF SUNDERLAND CRUNCH
Winger Matt Phillips is aiming high with West Bromwich Albion ahead of tomorrow’s Hawthorns showdown with lowly Sunderland.
Albion are eighth in the Premier League table and are determined to get back to winning ways after successive defeats to Derby, in the FA Cup, and Tottenham.
Phillips, impressive this season, believes West Brom can maintain their place, and even go for seventh spot by the end of the season.
“There’s no real limit to how far we can go,” said the 25-year-old Scotland international, who has hit five goals and provided seven assists in his last 12 games..
“We’ve been playing really well, especially at home, where we’re scoring a lot of goals.
“With the sort of wealth in the game at the moment the top six are pulling away, and there is everyone else after that.
“We will keep plugging away, keep putting points on the board and see. But it’s difficult for sides to try to breach the gap to get in the top six.”
Albion have had a £10million offer for Hull midfielder Jake Livermore accepted, and he could sign in time to face Sunderland.
Ex-Spurs mnanLivermore has made 25 appearances this season and will hold more talks with Albion today.
Pulis is also interested in Watford striker Odion Ighalo, despite his lack of goals in recent months, though no offer has yet been made.
Ighalo, who has scored just twice in 19 games this season, is only likely to move for a striker if Saido Berahino leaves this month.
They are in talks with Stoke, who have previously offered £20million, over Berahino, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign.
Ex-QPR flier Phillips believes Albion can attract quality players, despite missing out on Morgan Schneiderlin, who opted for Everton instead of West Brom.
“Where we are in the league now and the type of football we’re playing, more and more people are seeing that this is a great place to play football,” Phillips told the Express and Star.
Despite Phillips’ tremendous form, he has played down the importance of his role to the team, adding: “It’s the core that is so important.
“Ben Foster in goal, the two centre-halves, Gaz (McAuley) and Jonny (Evans), then Fletch (Darren Fletcher) and (Claudio) Yacob in the middle and Sal (Rondon) up from. They give you the platform to go and play.
“Craig Dawson too, he’s played so many games.”
Pulis hopes for good news on the availability of ex-Sunderland loan centreback Jonny Evans, who has missed the last two defeats against Derby (FA Cup) and Tottenham.
“Jonny is closer, so we’ll have a good look and see where he is,” Pulis said.
“He’s a massive player for us. Once he’s not in the team, everybody notices the quality he’s got and the quality he’s given the team.”
Pulis may get the nod on the availability of Allan Nyom today, following his “ridiculous” Africa Cup of Nations situation.