James Morrison has confirmed his West Bromwich Albion side for the final game of the Championship season, making three changes for the trip to Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough. The Baggies aim to end a difficult campaign by extending their unbeaten run to 11 matches.
Morrison's First Game as Permanent Head Coach
This fixture is the first since Morrison was confirmed as the club's permanent head coach on a two-year contract. The former midfielder has opted for three alterations to his lineup for the farewell to the 2025/26 season.
Changes to the Starting XI
One change is enforced, as injured midfielder Jayson Molumby misses out with a minor muscle strain. Also dropping to the bench are centre-back Nat Phillips and striker Daryl Dike. Into the starting XI come academy graduate winger Ollie Bostock, defender Alfie Gilchrist, and striker Josh Maja.
Teenager Bostock has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, and a final-day start is reward for his progress. Gilchrist has not started since the draw against Southampton on March 11, where the Baggies were denied a first win under Morrison in the final minute. The ex-Chelsea youngster impressed at centre-back that day but lost his place to Phillips thereafter, who has excelled in a new partnership with George Campbell.
Maja replaces Dike from the off on what could be his farewell appearance for the club, as both Maja and Dike are out of contract.
Substitutes and Team News
Club captain Jed Wallace has returned from a calf injury to make the substitutes' bench on what could be his final game as an Albion player. Also among the subs for the first time is attacking midfielder Souleyman Mandey, a 20-year-old Austrian who has impressed for the under-21s this season.
It is a party mood at Hillsborough, where fans are celebrating a new ownership and dawn of a new era under businessman David Storch.
Albion (4-4-2): O'Leary; Imray, Gilchrist, Campbell, Styles; Bostock, Mowatt (c), Diakite, Price; Heggebo, Maja. Subs: Griffiths (gk), Taylor, Phillips, Mandey, Bany, Wallace, Grant, Sule, Dike.
