Graham Potter says that Steven Alzate’s impending surgery for an ongoing groin injury is the right thing to do for the midfielder’s long-term prospects.
The boss revealed that the Colombian international will have the operation in the near future and says the pause in his involvement is the correct thing to do for all concerned.
Albion’s head coach said, “It’s his first season in the Premier League and he has adapted to that well. He has contributed to some really good things we have done.
"As you can imagine with a young player it is managing his load, but I think we will get better with him on that as we go forward.
“It’s disappointing because has probably carried this injury since the start of the year. It has affected how much he has played and we’ve had to manage it.
“But he has got quality. He’s a good lad who wants to learn and improve. Hopefully he can use this season as a decent foundation and then he can finish his recovery, be ready for next season and hit the ground running.”
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Alzate, 21, last played against Crystal Palace at the Amex at the end of February. He made his debut against Newcastle last September and has made 21 appearances in league and cup, including 12 Premier League starts.
Potter added, “It’s nice to be pain-free and he hasn’t been able to do that. But credit to him, he has tried to get on with it and play.
"However, it got to the point where he couldn’t be himself really. Regardless of our current situation there’s no point waiting, you just have to get [the surgery] done.