Mulumbu back from injury as Clarke makes five changes
YOUSSOUF Mulumbu has given Albion a New Year boost by shaking off a hamstring injury to start against Fulham as Steve Clarke makes five changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Manchester United on Saturday.The DR Congo international replaces George Thorne, who drops to the bench, in central midfield.
Zoltan Gera, James Morrison, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Romelu Lukaku are also restored to the Baggies’ starting XI in place of Markus Rosenberg, Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long, who are among the substitutes, and Graham Dorrans, who is left out altogether.
Jonas Olsson (groin), Steven Reid (shin), Goran Popov and Claudio Yacob (both hamstring) all remain sidelined due to injury.
Ben Foster makes his 50th Barclays Premier League start for the club.
Martin Jol makes one change to the Cottagers team that lost 2-1 to Swansea three days ago.
Alexander Kacaniklic comes in for Kerim Frei, who drops to the bench.
Former loan signing and 'Great Escape' hero Kieran Richardson is also among the substitutes.
ALBION (4-2-3-1): Foster; Jones, McAuley, Tamas, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Brunt; Fortune, Morrison, Gera; Lukaku. Subs: Myhill (gk), Thorne, Jara Reyes, Dawson, Rosenberg, Long, Odemwingie.
FULHAM (4-4-1-1): Stockdale; Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs; Dejagah, Karagounis, Sidwell, Kacaniklic; Ruiz; Berbatov. Subs: Etheridge (gk), Senderos, Baird, Kasami, Richardson, Rodallega, Frei.
REFEREE: M Dean (Wirral).