Swansea v West Brom preview: Chris Brunt jests Baggies stalwart not loving chaotic schedule

Legendary former midfielder Brunt, the public face of the Baggies' three-man caretaker team, picked up the reins at The Hawthorns amid a sequence of five games in 14 days.

Mercifully for Albion's creaking squad that run is nearing an end with the fifth and final clash at Swansea on Saturday lunchtime.

With a couple of injuries biting and the exit of two loan players, Albion's squad is feeling the strain with the January transfer window in its infancy - and one feeling the schedule more than most is experienced defender Kyle Bartley.

The 33-year-old, who extended his stay at the club into a seventh season with a new deal last summer, is somebody the club have manage when it comes to his fitness. An existing knee issue, that Albion had been managing, required minor surgery in October and ruled the dominant centre-back out for a month. When the schedule gets busy, Bartley trains less. Him missing the odd game in a three-match week is expected.

Not that you would know it at this time. Bartley has started - and played every minute - of four games in 11 days. He has been a towering presence in most and is in inspired form at the moment. One of Carlos Corberan's final public comments before his exit was there was no way the former Swansea man could play in all five games.

Whether he can go again against his old club is something Albion's medical and physical staff will have to weigh up - though options to the alternative are thin on the ground.