Matt Phillips set for first West Brom start in eight weeks

The 26-year-old responded positively to 45 minutes at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night and is now in line for a starting place against Southampton.

The influential winger missed five games and an international break due to a hamstring problem that also affected his tendons.

But he returned to action as a half-time substitute against Watford this week, when he added some much-needed pace and purpose to the Baggies.

Straight after the game Pulis said ‘we’ll have to wait and see’ when he was asked if Phillips would start at The Hawthorns this weekend. But initial checks suggest Phillips will be ready.

“That was one good thing to come from the game because it was good to see Matty back on the pitch,” said Pulis. “He looked bright. He's been a long time off and it's a real boost for us because we need that quality wide.

"It was very pleasing to get him back into action and he came through very well.”

Phillips is enjoying an impressive first season at the Baggies, and has scored five goals and laid on nine assists. The former Queens Park Rangers man confirmed he was ready after coming through the Watford game unscathed.

“I felt fine, it was good to get back out there,” he said.

Even though he has a clean bill of health, Pulis is contemplating making changes to his line-up after the 2-0 defeat at Vicarage Road, but not because of any fatigue setting in.

“We compliment ourselves on the players being fit at this club and I don’t see why they can’t play three games in a week,” he said.

Right-back Craig Dawson is on nine bookings and will receive a two-game ban if he picks up a tenth yellow card tomorrow ahead of the amnesty on Sunday, but Pulis is still planning to play him.

“He’s been on nine for two or three games now,” he said. “If he gets booked, he gets booked, we’ve got other people in the squad who can come in and take his place.”