Team news latest ahead of Everton encounter
Ben Foster, Gareth McAuley and Graham Dorrans are all expected to be fit for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash at home to Everton (ko 3pm).
The trio each returned from international duty nursing respective thumb, ankle and heel injuries but should be cleared for Baggies duty, along with skipper Chris Brunt, who has overcome a calf complaint.
Youssouf Mulumbu will be assessed ahead of the weekend as he aims to recover from a hamstring problem also aggravated while away with his international team-mates, as will striker Victor Anichebe (hernia).
Head coach Alan Irvine said: “Ben trained today and has been training but in a controlled way since he came back, we’re not too concerned.
“Youssouf is not back yet, he’s on his way back and is due back today, which is what was scheduled from the start.
“So we’ve not had a chance to assess him, we’re hoping he will actually be okay because he’s had one or two issues leading up to other games this season where’s had this bit of tightness in his hamstring.
“If we can get him assessed them I’m certainly not ruling him out for this weekend.
“Gareth is fine and he trained today, Graham also trained today while there was a little bit of concern about Chris Brunt, who had a tight calf, he’s trained today as well.
“The only people who didn’t actually train today were Youssouf and Victor Anichebe, who’s had a hernia issue. I’m still not ruling him out, he’s been training with the medical people.”
Irvine received fitness boosts earlier this week in the shape of James Morrison, who came through his first 90 minutes of the season for Scotland against Germany, and defender Sebastien Pocognoli, who resumed training after a thigh injury.
Joleon Lescott, Sebastian Blanco and Cristian Gamboa all stepped up their returns to full match fitness in Tuesday’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Hull.
Georgios Samaras also got 45 minutes under his belt for Greece, while Silvestre Varela has been working hard behind the scenes at the training ground having also not had a pre-season.
Only time will now tell how involved the quintet are against the Toffees at The Hawthorns.
Irvine added: “Nobody is ruled out through injury, in terms of lack of match fitness there’s nobody ruled out - but there are some who are less likely to be involved than others.”