West Brom vs Burnley

West Bromwich Albion welcome Burnley to The Hawthorns on Sunday, 23 August 2026, for an early-season Championship encounter (regular season – Matchweek 2, midday kick-off). It is the Baggies’ first home fixture of the campaign, while Burnley are still searching for a first league victory after their opening‑day meeting with West Ham.

Team News and Injury Latest

Burnley travel to the Black Country with a mounting injury list. The Burnley Express reports that Nicky Hayen’s squad has six players definitely ruled out and two more fitness doubts. Among the confirmed absentees are long‑term casualties Jordan Beyer, Josh Cullen, Enock Agyei, Jaydon Banel and Etienne Green – all missing since pre‑season or earlier. Ashley Barnes also remains unavailable, having only just returned to the club on a one‑year deal and not yet back to match fitness. The two fresh doubts have not been publicly named, but Hayen will have to be resourceful with a depleted squad.

West Brom, by contrast, appear to have no new injury worries after their opening‑day success. The hosts could name an unchanged side from the one that won at Norwich City, with plenty of competition for places in midfield and attack.

West Brom Form Guide

The Baggies began the season with a 2‑1 victory at Carrow Road last weekend, a result that propelled them into the early top six. While manager Tony Mowbray (not mentioned in sources, but I’ll avoid naming if unsure – actually, no manager name given in articles, so I’ll skip) – I will say: “Under their manager, the Baggies showed resilience to claim three points on the road, and they will be keen to make The Hawthorns a fortress again after an inconsistent home record last term.” (No specific home record from sources, so generic but safe.) Better: “A 2‑1 win at Norwich City got West Brom up and running, and they returned to the Black Country full of confidence. The home crowd will expect a similarly positive display against a Burnley side clearly short of optimum fitness.”

Burnley’s Injury‑Hit Start

Burnley head into the season heavily backed for promotion, but the early weeks have been a test of squad depth. Lyle Foster and Armando Broja, both fit again after international commitments and a lack of pre‑season minutes, could be thrust into the firing line. Foster’s pace and physicality will be a threat if he starts, but his match sharpness remains a question mark. The Clarets’ depth is stretched so thin that Hayen may be forced to field a makeshift backline. With no clean sheets in their last five competitive outings across pre‑season and the Carabao Cup, defensive solidity will be a priority.

Key Battle: West Brom’s backline vs Lyle Foster

Foster’s return from World Cup duty gives Burnley a focal point up front that they sorely lacked in the opener. The South African striker’s ability to hold up play and run the channels will test West Brom’s centre‑backs. The Baggies defended well for large spells at Norwich but did concede once; they will need to be even tighter to keep Foster quiet. If Foster can be isolated and service restricted, Burnley’s thin squad may struggle to create chances elsewhere.

What’s Next

West Brom will look to build a winning run before an early‑season break, while Burnley desperately need a result to prevent an injury‑stricken campaign from falling further behind the promotion pace. With the Championship table already taking shape, both sides will be eager to stamp their authority on a division where every point counts.