Carlos Corberan expects to have Cedric Kipre available to him as West Bromwich Albion head to Stoke City on Saturday. Kipre suffered a shoulder injury which eventually forced him off during the second half of the Baggies’ 1-1 draw at Millwall on Good Friday and he missed the dramatic stalemate with Watford at The Hawthorns on Easter Monday as a consequence.
Kipre was still complaining of soreness last weekend and, although Albion could have handed him a painkilling injection in order to play, they decided instead to allow the issue to fully correct itself. They afforded Kipre a little more time and Corberan called upon Semi Ajayi to fill in alongside familiar partner Kyle Bartley during the 2-2 draw.
Corberan could be set to welcome Kipre back into the starting line-up in the Potteries, however, as Albion seek to press on with cementing their position in the Championship play-offs in the final half dozen matches of the regular season. He has trained this week and there are encouraging signs on the availability front.
“Cedric Kipre still had pain in his shoulder when we played against Watford on Easter Monday,” Corberan explained. “With an injection, he probably could have played, but it made no sense because he still would’ve had pain even with the injection.
