DAN Ashworth has revealed the Baggies are awaiting the verdict of one last specialist to see whether Neil Clement will be able to play competitive football again.

Meanwhile, James Morrison (heel) and Ishmael Miller (knee) have both made significant strides on their road to recovery and potential January comebacks.

Clement, the club's current longest-serving player, has been sidelined for 16 months by an articular cartilage defect in his right knee.

And the club are doing everything in their power to help the 31-year-old get his career back on track.

"Neil has seen the consultant," said sporting and technical director Ashworth.

"He's had a couple of new, revolutionary treatments and we're trying every avenue.

"He's seen two different specialists in two different sorts of treatments.

"We're hoping to get an answer on the last one in the next week or so to see if it will enable him to fully compete or not.

"We're trying everything for Neil.

"We're conscious he's been here for nine years now.

"Neil and ourselves want to try every possible avenue to see whether he will be able to play professional football again and still have a career with us."

Morrison's heel has now healed and he has begun running in the gym, with a view to spending a week running in trainers outside before slipping his boots back on.

"James is back running," Ashworth added.

"His injury just looks like an old scar.

"He's been running inside in trainers and he's had the back of one of his trainers cut out as a precaution.

"We hope he'll have a week or so running in trainers outside and then he'll be back running in boots."

Miller is back in non-contact training and Ashworth is hoping he will participate in some non-competitive games next month in preparation for a return to first-team action in late January.

"Ishmael is back in training," Ashworth said.

"It's supposed to be non-contact training but he's finding it hard not to make contact!

"Normally, once players go back into training, you're looking at around a month before they are ready for action.

"He'll probably be looking for his first game towards the end of January and he'll need a couple of non-competitive games before that.

"He'll be like a new signing for us, as will James."