Gross: Baleba brings the 'wow' factor to Albion's midfield

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The Cameroon international was outstanding in the win over Chelsea last week.

Nick Szczepanik

2026-04-30T06:00+01:00

Pascal Gross is a big admirer of the skills of his midfield partner Carlos Baleba. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Pascal Gross has praised the performance of teammate Carlos Baleba in the recent 3-0 victory over Chelsea and he believes that the Cameroon midfielder has the ‘wow’ factor whose skillset can have the whole stadium on its feet.

Baleba has started 20 of the 34 Premier League matches so far, coming off the bench seven times in a season interrupted by Cameroon’s participation in the African Cup of Nations.

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And Gross believes that his stop-start campaign has affected his performances in the holding midfield role, a position that demands particular attributes.

“I think Carlos is so talented, he gives so much to the team,” Pascal said. “I always think when he's in good positions he can show his physicality. When he's not in good positions, sometimes you can't affect it anymore.

“So if he plays his position really, really smart, no one can really outplay him or win duels against him. And I think if he concentrates on that and shows his ability then after, on the ball or driving with the ball, it's frightening what he can do.

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Ferdi Kadioglu gave Albion the perfect start, followed by second half goals from Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck, as Albion ran out 3-0 victors in front of a jubliant home support.

“I think it's focus and concentration and keeping it simple then you will see actions where the whole stadium goes ‘Wow’. As a holding midfielder, it's about reliable consistency and we’re working with him on that.

"Carlos is a top guy and a top player. He did really well against Chelsea. I'm happy for him.”