West Bromwich Albion have been linked with plenty of names for their vacant manager position, and with a game against Reading having loomed over the whole process, it seems that the hierarchy will not be rushed into a quickfire decision.

They seem to have two very distinct brands of football in mind for which way to take the football club, with the likes of Rob Edwards and Carlos Corberan slightly more progressive, and Chris Wilder and Sean Dyche more old-school but proven.

The latter could certainly spark a revival of the club and instil some much-needed discipline into a side that seems unable to attack or defend to any great effect.

Should the former Burnley man come in, it might also mark a chance for Matt Phillips to recapture some of his best form, as the winger would surely benefit from the structured play the 51-year-old would implement.

His Clarets’ side was famed for its play style, offering a no-nonsense tactic that had the wide men deliver at any given opportunity.

Instructing the Scotsman to simply find the channels and cross would remove any element of doubt from his mind, allowing him to know exactly what must be done to ensure a fine performance in his eyes.

Whilst he, and the rest of the team have been poor this season, last year he averaged 0.9 key passes per game down the right flank.

The 31-year-old could certainly improve both this stat and his crossing, where he averages just 0.5 per game, as he has been known to possess a lethal delivery.

Back in 2019, his teammate Charlie Austin lauded him as an underrated talent amongst the starring wingers such as Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira.

The marksman noted:

“Matty offers so much for us. Matheus and Grady are getting praise because they are new whereas Matty has been here for three, four years.

"He is a fantastic player. He will be key for us as well – not just those two.

"He creates so many goals and he’s got three or four already and he is a wide man."

The £12k-per-week star has always had a keen eye for creativity - Football Insider pundit Noel Whelan once lauded him as a "game-changer" and a "match-winner" - and if Dyche were to get the job, he would strip the 31-year-old back to basics and likely ensure he improves even more. 

Phillips can become the mature stalwart in his attack, similar to Aaron Lennon or Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson at Turf Moor, allowing the younger Diangana to shine just as he did with Dwight McNeil.