Leicester City survival hopes boosted by big West Brom development | OneFootball

Leicester City and West Brom are battling against relegation from the Championship but a boost has emerged for Gary Rowett's side...

West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City are two of the teams in the battle to survive relegation from the Championship to League One.

Oxford United, Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth, and Charlton Athletic are also in the mix, with Sheffield Wednesday already confirmed as relegated. But Leicester City on 34 points in 22nd and West Brom on 25 in 21st are the likeliest to join them outside of Oxford.

West Brom and Leicester's remaining fixtures could dictate plenty yet, which is also true of the appointment West Bromwich Albion make to replace Eric Ramsay. Leicester City recently brought in Gary Rowett to avoid back-to-back relegations.

The Baggies last played in the top flight in 2021, having now spent five seasons in the Championship. Ther midlands rivals Leicester won the Premier League 10 seasons ago, the FA Cup five years ago, and have since suffered two relegations to the second tier.

Leicester beat West Brom 2-1 in January after a 1-1 draw in September, meaning they have to rely on other teams somewhat to beat their rivals from here on out. However, a boost has emerged for the Foxes in this relegation dogfight.

West Brom's Mikey Johnston fractures ankle offering Leicester City boost

For West Brom, there is no dressing this up — Mikey Johnston's injury is a huge blow. He is a match-winner and they are going to look a far blunter side without him in the team. In a league where fine margins define seasons, Johnston gives Albion something priceless: unpredictability.

He is quick enough to stretch in behind, can beat a man in tight spaces, drive 30 yards in transition, or shift the ball onto his right foot and smash one into the far corner. Even when games drift into sterile patterns, he carries that spark capable of turning a point into three.

No player in the division can beat his nine assists so far, with Johnston scoring just twice this season — and both came from outside of the box. Add in his threat from set-pieces — whether delivering with whip and pace or striking directly at goal — and you are talking about a player who directly influences matches.

That is why a fractured ankle, potentially ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign, feels seismic for both West Brom but also Leicester and their relegation rivals. Albion are not blessed with an abundance of natural game-breakers. Remove Johnston, and you remove incision and output for WBA.

Suddenly, those tight contests against fellow strugglers look far more daunting. Those matches against top sides are also harder to get back into when falling behind. Teams around them will see this as a huge opportunity. The psychological edge may well have shifted.

West Brom have other talents but losing your most explosive outlet at this stage of the season means survival becomes that bit more fragile — and far more frightening.

Mikey Johnston's transfer interest and Leicester City comparison

Johnston is not among West Brom's highest paid players despite the fact he is arguably their best player from a technical standpoint. He is one of the outstanding individuals of the squad given that he has huge differential quality.

Leicester have players like that in abundance, with Abdul Fatawu, Divine Mukasa, Jordan James, and Stephy Mavididi all capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck or winning it on their own.

It's why Johnston has had transfer interest previously. The Republic of Ireland international, it has been revealed by Express & Star journalist Lewis Cox, had firm interest from Turkish giants Trabzonspor in the final hours of the transfer window as well.

Then, Sheffield United were touted with making a move for Johnston late in the January transfer window. The winger will surely not be a League One player next term, irrespective of what West Bromdo whilst he is injured.