Preston v West Brom preview: Baggies man proves himself as visitors hunt improved form

Bartley defied medical recommendation of playing a maximum of 20 minutes as a late substitute at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night and instead was called in as a late starting XI replacement for Ousmane Diakite and played the first half.

The experienced centre-back had missed around six weeks of football after minor surgery on a long-standing knee issue but had barely completed two training sessions prior to the trip north east. Corberan had gaps all over his defence - with the ever-present Darnell Furlong suspended - and Bartley was only ruled to play a bit-part cameo.

But Bartley showed little sign of ring-rust as he partnered Torbjorn Heggem in an excellent defensive performance from the Baggies, who claimed an impressive point in another 0-0 draw given their shortcomings at the back.

Head coach Corberan withdrew the defender at the interval, for midfielder Uros Racic who dropped into the backline, and now the hope is Bartley can be ready to play a bigger part at lowly Preston on Saturday.

"He has proved himself a lot to play 45 minutes," said Corberan, whose side drew for an eighth time in nine games. "He completed one training-and-a-half from six weeks out after Oxford.