Chris Brunt to stay on as West Brom captain

The Northern Ireland international, who is on course to be fit for the start of the Premier League campaign, will keep the armband under a fifth Baggies head coach.

Brunt had his pre-season preparations delayed by a summer hernia operation but played his first 90 minutes in Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Port Vale.

"Chris will absolutely be our captain," said Irvine. "There's absolutely no reason to change it. I can't see any reason whatsoever to do that.

"He has the respect of the changing room and he's done a great job as captain for many years so I have no intention of making any changes. It was absolutely fantastic to get 90 minutes from Chris on Tuesday.

"The game was as much for him as it was for anyone else. We decided to rest as much as we could the lads who had played the most in pre-season and it was terrific for Chris to play 90 minutes – a big bonus."

Brunt was appointed skipper by Roberto Di Matteo after former captain Scott Carson was dropped following poor form.

He kept the captaincy under Roy Hodgson, Steve Clarke and Pepe Mel.

and will now keep the job under Irvine.

Meanwhile, Irvine has again admitted centre-backs Gareth McAuley and Joleon Lescott are losing their race to be fit for the season opener against Sunderland on August 16.

Lescott has managed just 35 minutes of pre-season action through calf and knee injuries while McAuley, who also has a calf problem, is yet to figure at all, although he returned to training on Tuesday.

Irvine said: "I think making the first game of the season is a big ask for Gareth to be perfectly honest.

"He's missed so much pre-season that it is very difficult to throw him in.

"Joleon has done a bit more but it is a tall order. It depends what happens over the next 10 days but if you're asking me now whether they'll make it, I'd say probably not."

(Video courtesy of West Brom)