West Brom boss Alan Pardew flew to Switzerland this week to spy… on one of his OWN players

ALAN PARDEW flew to Switzerland this week to complete a spying mission – on one of his own players!

The under-pressure Baggies boss puts his Egyptian centre half Ali Gabr through his paces every day at the club’s Palm Training Ground.

PA:Press Association

But Pards dropped a heavy hint he could hand the loan-signing from Zamalek his first team debut against Burnley on Saturday after he flew to Zurich on Tuesday to watch him in action for Egypt against Greece.

The 29-year-old defender signed in January but had to wait until mid-February to obtain a work permit and has been limited to one appearance for Albion’s Under-23’s since then.

Now Pards could turn to Gabr in a last-ditch attempt to try something new against the Clarets.

The 6ft4” Egyptian operated at right back in Egypt’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Greece.

Getty Images - Getty

Getty

However he has formed a formidable twin pyramid centre half pairing with his international team-mate Ahmed Hegazi in the past – and can also play in a back three which Pards used against Bournemouth last time out.

Gabr first caught the eye of former boss Tony Pulis during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations as Egypt kept four clean sheets and only conceded three goals to progress all the way to the final.

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Another reason for Pardew’s Swiss trip would be to assess Gabr’s chances of being kept on this summer to play in the Championship next season, if as expected Baggies are relegated.

Returning chief executive Mark Jenkins has asked for a comprehensive breakdown of Albion’s squad and wants to know who to ditch and who to keep. Baggies have a £750,000 option to buy Gabr if they decide to make his move permanent at the end of the season.