Another critical round of Championship matches begins in midweek, with a match at The Hawthorns having significance for both ends of the table.

West Brom will welcome Southampton to the Black Country on Wednesday evening, looking to build on their outstanding away performance last weekend.

The Baggies drew 1-1 with Sheffield United, with George Campbell going from zero to hero, first diverting the ball into his own net from a low Gustavo Hamer cross, then unleashing a rocket of a shot from 25 yards out to send the travelling fans into raptures.

It could be just what they need to ignite the latter portion of their season and move them away from the bottom of the table, but they are up against a well-prepared Saints squad right now.

Tonda Eckert’s side has gone unbeaten in their previous eight Championship games, winning six of them, and they defeated Premier League side Fulham 1-0 in the FA Cup last weekend to advance to the quarterfinals.

Naturally, there is a lot of optimism among Saints fans right now, and another win at The Hawthorns would help them solidify their position in the play-off battle.

It’s a match with a lot on the line for both clubs, so it should be an exciting game as we approach the end of the Championship season.

With this in mind, FLW has identified the players who will miss the clash in B71.

West Brom’s Mikey Johnston

Beginning with the hosts, they will be bitterly sad to lose their finest offensive outlet, Mikey Johnston.

The Republic of Ireland international was replaced in the 22nd minute of their defeat to Oxford United, and the club later revealed that he had sustained a stress fracture in his ankle.

The injury is expected to sideline him for the bulk, if not the entire season, which is devastating for Albion’s chances of survival in the second division, given that he has 11 goals and nine assists this season.

Hopefully, the Baggies will find an extra spark somewhere, which may come in the form of academy graduate Ollie Bostock, who scored his first second-tier goal of the season at the Kassam Stadium after replacing Johnston.

West Brom’s Charlie Taylor

Next up is defender Charlie Taylor, who, while a natural left-back, has spent the majority of the season playing central defence due to a number of injuries in the backline.

While he is fit and came on as a substitute for Sheffield United in the second half, this game is against his parent club, thus he will be unable to play at The Hawthorns on Wednesday.

Albion’s defensive options are undoubtedly strained, with James Morrison having to decide who will play with George Campbell.

West Brom’s Nat Phillips

As previously stated, the Baggies are currently dealing with defensive injuries, with Nat Phillips hoping to return to the first team.

The former Derby County defender suffered a thigh injury in training ahead to their match against Oxford United.

Interim manager James Morrison expressed hope that the 28-year-old would be back in training ahead of the Saints’ match against Sheffield United last week.

Morrison told BBC Radio WM: “Nat’s progressing well; hopefully, he’ll be with us next week for training.”

It remains to be seen whether Phillips’ training regimen is sufficient to see him return to the squad, but it would be surprising given Albion’s need for Phillips to be fully healthy to help them survive.

West Brom’s Chris Mepham

Chris Mepham has also been out of action since the beginning of February, after suffering a hamstring injury in a goalless draw with Stoke City under Eric Ramsay.

Prior to their game against Sheffield United, Morrison issued an update on his health, saying: “Meps is still working along and will be assessed, so that’s it so far.”

Again, it’s unclear whether the Welsh international will be able to return in midweek, but Albion must exercise caution when dealing with such a delicate issue.

West Brom’s Karlan Grant

Moving on to long-term absentees, Karlan Grant is set to be out for an extended amount of time and will miss the game against Southampton.

The former Huddersfield Town player and £15 million signing sustained a hamstring injury in the early stages of their match with Derby County at Pride Park, necessitating surgery.

Grant will be out for three months, but there is hope that he will return to play a role in the team’s last campaign.

West Brom’s Tammer Bany

West Brom’s final absentee is attacking midfielder Tammer Bany, who has been plagued by injury issues since joining the club in February 2025.

The Jordan international is currently working his way back from a four-month layoff caused by a ruptured thigh injury sustained in training in late December.

As a result, he will not play against the Saints and may be out for the rest of the season, following a difficult period since his move from Randers – he has only appeared five times in all competitions since arriving in England.

Southampton: Welington.

Moving on to the visitors, and Brazilian left-back Welington remains a doubt with a muscle injury.

The 25-year-old got the injury at the end of their dramatic 4-3 win over Leicester City, and Tonda Eckert stated the defender would be out for a few more weeks before their match against Charlton Athletic.

While it is unclear when he will return, his absence from the FA Cup match against Fulham last weekend suggests that the issue has not yet been resolved, and he may miss the game against West Brom as well.

Southampton’s Jay Robinson

Attacker Jay Robinson has been sidelined with a quad injury since the end of January.

Just over a week ago, Eckert stated that Robinson “won’t be too long” before returning to the squad, but he did miss their FA Cup victory at Craven Cottage last weekend.

It does imply he is in doubt for Wednesday evening, with a quick turnaround suggesting he could be spared for the following weekend against Coventry City.