[ad_pod ]

When it was realised West Bromwich Albion star Kieran Gibbs wasn't going to be available for the Championship clash with Leeds United at Elland Road on Friday night because of injury, the obvious choice was to select left-back Conor Townsend in his place – but it didn't happen.

On the chalkboard

Well, Gibbs has been a regular fixture in the position for the promotion-chasing Baggies this term, and Townsend would have been well within in his own right to expect to stand in for him against Marcelo Bielsa's men.

However, manager Darren Moore was thinking differently and bafflingly decided to use centre-back loanee Tosin Adarabioyo there instead, and within 20 seconds they visitors found themselves a goal down when the Manchester City youngster failed to close Pablo Hernandez down effectively.

With his more experienced 26-year-old teammate watching on from the substitutes' bench, the youngster was then at fault for at least one more goal on a terrible night for the west Midlands outfit, as they ended the weekend seven points adrift of the top two.

What now for Townsend?

Given he has only played 315 minutes of Championship football so far during the current campaign it is clear to see that he isn't a key first-team individual, but he must be tearing his hair out that he wasn't given an opportunity against the Whites.

Who has been the Championship's best player this season? The Pl>ymaker FC squad discuss in the video below...

While the decision on the day completely backfired on Moore, he also surely sent out a simultaneous message that Townsend is not in his plans either in the short-term or the long-term.

The summer addition from Scunthorpe United may as well already start looking for his next club ahead of the upcoming transfer window.