Express & Star

West Brom v Norwich: Who's out and who's a doubt

Albion's defensive injury crisis is showing signs of relenting as Carlos Corberan's side head into a busy period.

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International action is over for now and the Baggies focus on a period of 11 Championship fixtures over the next six weeks or so.

Mercifully for Corberan he is beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to availability in his defensive line after four senior defenders were ruled out through injury prior to the break - three centre-backs.

But Corberan was able to issue a positive update on Kyle Bartley's knee issue, which has forced the defender out of the last five fixtures.

See the full round-up of injury latest after Corberan's pre-Norwich press conference on Thursday.

Gianluca Frabotta - groin (60 per cent chance of featuring)

The Italian left-back has barely featured since his summer move from Juventus as Torbjorn Heggem made the left-back spot his own.

Ironically, once other injuries opened up an opportunity in that spot Frabotta picked up a niggling problem of his own and Callum Styles grabbed his chance.

Frabotta has returned to training, though, and should be able to make the bench against Norwich.

Kyle Bartley - knee (0 per cent chance)

Bartley will not be available against the Canaries but has returned to full Albion training this week.

The experienced stopper has been a linchpin in defence under Corberan but had to undergo minor surgery last month after feeling discomfort during and after the draw at Oxford.

Bartley might be in the squad at Sunderland on Tuesday but Preston on Saturday week is the bigger target. It will be interesting to see whether Corberan decides to stick with Heggem and Mason Holgate.



Paddy McNair - hamstring (0 per cent chance)

Loanee Paddy McNair has not featured since a hamstring injury against Cardiff last month (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images).
Loanee Paddy McNair has not featured since a hamstring injury against Cardiff last month (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images).

One who pulled up in the home stalemate against Cardiff almost a month ago. McNair's afternoon lasted less than five minutes that day.

The Northern Ireland international defender will only spend the first half of the season on loan at The Hawthorns before he heads off to play in the MLS and Corberan this week said he will not be fit to feature until around late December.

The new year is when McNair's loan ends, so it could be touch and go whether he kicks another ball for the Baggies.

Daryl Dike - hamstring (0 per cent chance)

Luckless striker endured a gutting setback from his long Achilles rehab when he returned to full first-team training and injured his hamstring a few weeks ago.

Corberan said yesterday a more realistic time for Dike's return to action is now January.

Semi Ajayi - hamstring (0 per cent chance)

Ajayi had enjoyed a fine individual start to the season playing every game alongside Bartley but pulled up badly in the second half against Cardiff.

The Nigeria international will be fighting to return before the end of the season and may not taste any more action until March, according to the head coach.