Kamil Grosicki is back in the West Brom fray after his move to Nottingham Forest fell through - and Slaven Bilic has laid down a challenge to the Polish winger as he welcomes him into the fold once more.
Grosicki was the subject of interest and a loan offer from Championship outfit Forest that required all hands to the pump on transfer deadline day - yet that wasn’t enough, and the deadline came too soon for the paperwork that was being submitted.
It was ruled that Grosicki’s deal, which missed the deadline by a little over 20 seconds, couldn’t go through at an arbitration hearing this week and so the player is at Bilic’s disposal once more.
It was never a footballing decision, more a business call, that Grosicki might’ve left for the City Ground, Bilic reasoned and so he’s ready to include him in his plans once more.
How much of a part he plays in the coming weeks and months, though, is entirely down to the winger, who faces competition for places in the form of Grady Diangana, Matt Phillips and Kyle Edwards.
“I felt sorry for him, because he’s a great lad and a great professional,” Bilic said of the move collapsing.
“We’re not overloaded with the players. I said at the time why we were willing to do it was because we had to offload some players, to bring some players in in very important positions.
“For Grosicki, it’s taken a little bit longer for his case to be resolved, or solved, but of course he’s going to be included.
“He’s an international player, he’s very proven in the Premier League. He’s played in the World Cup and big tournaments. He’s still in the first XI for Poland.
“He’s going to be included and it’s entirely down to him how much he’s going to play, or be involved.
“Do I like him as a player? Yes I like him a lot. I like him when he’s on fire and top form, then he’s very, very valuable for us.
“So I’m glad that he stayed.”
Albion, who submitted their 25-man squad after the closure of the transfer window, were assured that they would be able to add Grosicki onto that list should he have stayed put - which he has done.
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The former Hull City talisman would’ve made it a round 25, but for the fact that Ahmed Hegazi has since left the club and so it’s 24 senior players - not including those under the age of 21 - that Bilic has to work with as Albion seek to secure another year in the top flight.
“Kamil is a big boost for us. The reason why I was willing to let him go was because we needed to bring [Karlan] Grant in. That was the position we really needed - a priority,” Bilic continued.
“So it had nothing to do with football. He’s a good player, proven in the Premier League and we don’t have too many of those players.
“We’re not overloaded in the positions where he can play. We kept that space in the roster for him, in our squad. Welcome back.”
