There was a previous injury scare earlier in the season involving Kipre, who was forced off in the win over Queens Park Rangers at The Hawthorns back in October. Having landed awkwardly on that occasion, it was feared that he might’ve sustained a knee injury, only for Kipre to line up in the starting XI a week later at Coventry City. Everyone associated with Albion will be hoping for similar positive news this time around.
“I don’t know,” Carlos Corberan replied, when asked by BBC WM after the game at Millwall about how Kipre was looking. “We need to assess. He went to the floor and he was feeling pain in the shoulder. I think tomorrow [on Saturday] I will know in more detail.”
Albion boss Corberan didn’t involve experienced centre half Erik Pieters in his match-day 20 on Friday, and Ajayi would be the outright favourite to partner Kyle Bartley – with whom he helped Albion clinch promotion in 2020 under Slaven Bilic – on Monday against Watford, in the event Kipre doesn’t make it.
Kipre, 27, is out of contract in the summer but he has proven to be a crucial member of this Albion side which is hoping to challenge for promotion via the play-offs in the coming couple of months; the Ivorian has made 40 appearances and scored in the wins over Middlesbrough and, more recently, Plymouth Argyle.
Albion’s injury situation has, in general, improved in recent weeks; they have welcomed back Matt Phillips after four months out and intend to confirm the return of striker Josh Maja in the next week or so, too. The only other players who remained sidelined for the long-term are Jayson Molumby, who has had foot surgery, and Daryl Dike, who damaged ankle ligaments in February’s draw at Ipswich Town.
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