Club News

Albion v Oxford - team news

Irvine hands full Baggies debuts to trio

ALAN Irvine hands full competitive Baggies debuts to trio Brown Ideye, Jason Davidson and Chris Baird as he makes seven changes to the side that drew 0-0 at Southampton on Saturday.

The Hawthorns boss also gives starts to Boaz Myhill, Claudio Yacob and Stephane Sessegnon, while Gareth McAuley returns for his first action of the season following a calf problem.

James Morrison also makes a welcome comeback from a knee injury on the bench, where he is joined by new signing Cristian Gamboa.

The men to make way from the starting XI are trio Ben Foster, Jonas Olsson and Youssouf Mulumbu, who are among the substitutes, and injured quartet Craig Gardner, Graham Dorrans, Victor Anichebe and Sebastien Pocognoli.

The only change former Baggies player and coach Michael Appleton makes to the Oxford team that lost 1-0 to Portsmouth in League Two on Saturday is in goal, where Max Crocombe comes in for George Long.

ALBION: Myhill, Wisdom, Baird, Yacob, Ideye, Brunt, Davidson, Berahino, McAuley, Dawson, Sessegnon. Subs: Foster (gk), Olsson, Morrison, Gamboa, O'Neil, Mulumbu, Roofe.

OXFORD: Crocombe, Newey, Mullins, Wright, Rose, Brown, Morris, Hylton, Ruffels, Collins, Riley. Subs: Stephens (gk), Meades, Raynes, Potter, Hunt, Jakubiak, Hoskins.

REFEREE: J Adcock (Nottinghamshire).