The former Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday player need quadruple surgery and is set to be out for three months.
With Corberan utilizing a wing-back formation this season, the Spaniard believes Reach would have been excellent for his scheme.
Corberan told the Express & Star, “Always, long-term injuries are emotionally difficult to manage, but it’s true – Reach has one level of maturity with which he is dealing with the situation.”
“It’s a shame because the way he came into pre-season, the effort he put in over the summer, and the spirit he showed in the first (friendly) games were all positive signs.”
“Think about it: we’ve played the previous games with five, and he’s perfect for playing with five.” For me, his finest position is wing-back.
“Imagine how important he could have been with this shape that we’ve been working on for the past few weeks.” The players must adjust to the situation and manage their emotions. Without a doubt, he will return stronger than before.”
Doing okay without him
It was a very untimely injury for Reach, who was showing some pretty pleasing form in the early throes of pre-season before he was struck down by an untimely injury.
Corberan makes a pretty fair assessment of Reach, who is handy going forward but not always the best defensively, so playing as a wing-back would have suited his attributes.
By the same token, West Brom are doing a pretty decent job without Reach. Matt Phillips has been filling in at left wing-back and has been done an admirable job in the infant days of the campaign.
The Baggies have taken seven points from four games to sit in seventh position in the Championship and look more than capable of challenging for the top six this season.
Having Reach back available will certainly be a boost, but in the meantime they can just keep on keeping on and trying to accumulate the points.
