Harvey Barnes leaving huge hole at West Brom

According to statistics from professional analysis platform Wyscout, collated by Ram Srinivas, Barnes is responsible for creating 16.5 per cent of Albion’s high-quality shooting opportunities this season.

That makes him the most creative player in the team, ahead of Matt Phillips (13.3 per cent), Chris Brunt (11.3 per cent) and Kieran Gibbs (10.4 per cent).

These are remarkable statistics considering Barnes hasn’t played in nearly a third of Albion’s 38 league games this season, having been recalled from his season-long loan by Leicester in mid-January.

Barnes played 26 league games for the Baggies before he returned to the King Power Stadium, and hasn’t featured in the last 12.

Albion’s scoring rate has dipped as a result. In the 26 games Barnes was here, the Baggies scored 54 goals at a rate of 2.1 per game.

The Baggies have scored just 18 times in their 12 games without him, at a rate of 1.5 per game.

However, Barnes’ exit has not had a minimal impact on Albion’s points-per-game ratio.

The Baggies earned 46 points from his 26 games at a rate of 1.77 and 21 points from the 12 games he didn’t feature at a rate of 1.75.

It’s also worth pointing out Phillips, Albion’s second-most creative player this season, has only started two of the 12 games without Barnes.

Club captain Brunt, who is third on the list, has only started four of those games, whereas Gibbs has missed the last four.

These statistics suggest Barnes’ recall from Leicester and the injuries to Phillips have left a huge creative hole in Albion’s team.

But the Baggies have won points at a consistent rate this season, with or without those two.

That suggests they have either adapted well to their absences, or were underperforming during the first half of the season, when both of their most creative players were available.

It also suggests Brunt, who was reinstated to the team by caretaker boss James Shan, is an integral creative player for the team, particularly when Barnes, Phillips and Gibbs are all absent.

Jay Rodriguez was the fifth-most creative player of the team, setting up 7.3 per cent of high-quality shots.

Hal Robson-Kanu (sixth), Jake Livemore (seventh), James Morrison (eighth), Dwight Gayle (ninth), and Jacob Murphy complete the top 10.

Srinivas also collated the xA (expected assists) data for other top-half teams in the division.

Emiliano Buendia (18.44 per cent) is Norwich’s most creative player, followed by Teemu Pukki (14.55 per cent).

Oliver Norwood (19.26 per cent) is Sheffield United’s best creative player while Leeds rely significantly on Pablo Hernandez (20.77 per cent) and Ezgjan Alioski (18.38 per cent).

Jonny Howson (15.1 per cent) is Middlesbrough’s most creative player while Conor Hourihane (16.78 per cent) pips Jack Grealish (15.17 per cent) as Villa’s.