Express & Star

West Brom v Burnley: Who's out and who's a doubt with another defensive concern

The defensive injury concerns keep piling up for Albion boss Carlos Corberan.

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The Baggies are without central defensive trio Kyle Bartley, Semi Ajayi and Paddy McNair for a considerable period and that has led to a reshuffle in Corberan's backline.

And ahead of Thursday's visit of Burnley the Albion head coach has registered another concern with left-back Gianluca Frabotta struggling with a groin issue.

Torbjorn Heggem has been forced to shuffle across into the heart of Albion's defence from left-back, which has opened the door to Callum Styles and Frabotta. The former earned a start at Luton but Italian Frabotta did not train at the start of the week. Spaniard Corberan is hopeful the former Juventus man will be able to return to training on Wednesday.

Here is a round-up of Albion's availability before the Clarets clash.

Gianluca Frabotta - groin (60 per cent of making squad)

Frabotta is yet to start a league game this season but his availability is needed at the moment with so few other defensive options available to Corberan.

Corberan seemed hopeful the Italian could train on Wednesday to ease the burden but the head coach added that if he is unable to Albion will dip into the under-21s for defemsive cover.

Semi Ajayi - hamstring (zero per cent chance of featuring)

Pulled up in the last home fixture against Cardiff and underwent surgery. Expected to be out until February.

Paddy McNair - hamstring (zero per cent)

Also an injury victim from the Bluebirds clash and remains to be seen if the defender will play again as his loan is up at the end of December.

Kyle Bartley - knee (zero per cent)

Ruled out for up to six weeks a couple of weeks ago after a minor procedure on an existing knee problem the experienced defender and club had been managing.

Daryl Dike - Achilles/hamstring (zero per cent)

Out since February with his second serious Achilles injury and Dike's latest comeback has been delayed by a month or so given a hamstring injury as he stepped up training with his first-team colleagues.