Duo returned from international duty nursing injuries
ALBION head coach Alan Irvine is cautiously optimistic about the chances of Graham Dorrans and Ben Foster being in the frame to face Everton in eight days’ time.
Dorrans yesterday returned to Albion’s training ground for treatment having irritated a heel problem in training with Scotland ahead of their international clash in Germany.
Foster, meanwhile, cut short his England stay just 24 hours earlier and returned to the midlands having aggravated a thumb injury in training with his Three Lions team-mates.
Both now face a race against time to be fit to face the Toffees on Saturday, September 13 (ko 3pm).
But Irvine is hopeful over the duo’s chances, particularly midfielder Dorrans.
“Graham is hoping that three or four days off it and it will settle down. There's not really an awful lot you can do to treat it because of what it is and where it is,” Irvine said.
“It's a bruise but it's not like a bruise somewhere you don't notice it unless it gets hit, it's a bruise you notice every time you take a step.
“I will be surprised if he has still got problems with that kind of injury by that time (Everton fixture). I would expect that would have settled down in time.
“Hopefully he will be back training the early part of next week.”
Irvine remains slightly more cautious regarding Foster’s recovery time, admitting the club will know more during the early stages of next week.
“We are assessing Ben,” the Scot said.
“He just got his thumb jarred. He went to catch the ball, secured it with his left hand but it then ricocheted off and hit down on the top of his thumb. That's exactly the movement he wouldn't have wanted.
“He will be assessed as far as that's concerned going forward.
“We don't feel there's a need to do anything drastic at this particular moment. We are hoping that when he's assessed again on Monday he will be fine.
“There isn't a lot of swelling there, there's not a lot of bleeding, we don't believe it's a major injury or a big problem.”
Should Foster not be fit in time to face Roberto Martinez’s men, then Irvine is entirely confident the Baggies have a more than able replacement in the shape of Boaz Myhill.
Albion’s number two stepped in between the sticks for 14 Barclays Premier League fixtures last season after Foster sustained a broken foot.
And the retired Wales international has already proven his mettle this term, crucially saving two spot-kicks as Albion progressed past Oxford in a dramatic Capital One Cup penalty shoot-out.
Irvine said: “Boaz is a Premier League goalkeeper, he has proven that many times.
“He stood in for Ben last year and did extremely well. I am really comfortable with him.
“We are lucky to have two of them because it's not easy to keep two top goalkeepers happy. We are very lucky to have such good back-up.”