Chris Brunt believes that West Brom could have won promotion to the Premier League this season, if Harvey Barnes hadn't been recalled from his loan move by parent club Leicester City.

Barnes scored nine goals and registered six assists in 28 appearances during the early part of the season on loan with Baggies, but was recalled by Leicester in January. Barnes has gone on to make 16 appearances for The Foxes to help them secure a top half finish in the Premier League, scoring his first top flight goal in a 2-2 draw with West Ham.

The Baggies had been fourth in the Championship, just three points off an automatic promotion place at the time of Barnes' departure, and while that is where they finished the regular season, they ended the campaign nine points adrift of the top two.

[ad_pod ]

 

Brunt believes things could have been all so different had Barnes stayed at The Hawthorns, and speaking about Barnes at a Former Player's Association event, the Northern Irishman was quoted by The Express and Star as saying: “When he left it was a massive loss for us because I think he scored ten goals and created countless others in half a season.

“If you sit down and look back, that might have been the difference in us losing out in the play-offs and getting promoted automatically.”

The Verdict

Brunt may well be right here.

When Barnes left it felt as though West Brom were missing a creative spark that they badly needed in attack, as they slid further away from the automatic promotion places.

Given Barnes' subsequent performances for Leicester, it seems unlikely that Barnes will be back at West Brom or any other Championship side any time soon.

Thoughts? Let us know!