West Bromwich Albion head coach, Tony Mowbray, was delighted with the performance of Super Eagles defender, Semi Ajayi, after he featured for the club's U-21 side, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 31-year-old lanky centre-back picked up a high-grade hamstring injury in October and recently returned to training with the Albions. He missed Nigeria's AFCON qualifiers in November.
In a bid to regain full fitness, Ajayi featured for West Brom's U-21 side in their clash against Newcastle United at Aggborough yesterday evening in the Premier League 2. The Albions clinched a 3-1 victory over Magpies.
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Despite being a game for the club's youth side, the senior team head coach, Tony Mowbray was in the stands to keep tabs on Ajayi and another player with Nigerian roots, Daryl Dike. Dike hasn't played for 365 days since suffering an Achilles tendon tear last year.
First 45 of 2025.
A valuable night for our Nigerian defender on his return to full fitness. pic.twitter.com/mca1oZ3kVM
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) February 10, 2025
“They [Semi and Daryl] have been out on the training ground for a week or two, I just feel it was right they play in a game that is not overly controlled for them, where they have to be committed, not like in training where you have to be careful of team-mates.
“I thought it was the next step for them to play close to half a game. I hope they feel it was a benefit. It was a benefit for me to watch the game. One to see they both got through no problem and two to see the young players at the club and keep an eye on them, see their development. I'm not sure it brings them to my mind for tomorrow's game, but it's one of the steps along the way to get back to contributing to the first team,” the English manager said in quotes revealed by Birmingham Live.
“Let's see how they feel today. If they are fine, let them do a bit of training today, it's getting them back in the routine and ready for senior football. With Semi, we have Millwall on the horizon, at six foot five he is someone in my mind to include, so bring him along and see if he can contribute. Every coach wants the full selection.
“It was nice to see Semi who has had a shorter-term injury but I thought the pair was excellent and certainly their attitude in the training session on Sunday and in the game was an example to all young players,” the 61-year-old concluded.
“We're looking to get him fit but we're not pushing him too hard. He's had an operation so he needs to recover and recuperate. He'll be ready when he's ready. He'll really complement the strikers we've got.”
