Jake Livermore likely to keep Albion captaincy

The 30-year-old proved to be an inspirational skipper as the Baggies won promotion to the Premier League last season.

But his captaincy was thrown into doubt after he picked up a red card just 30 minutes into the recent derby with Villa.

That match was first under new head coach Sam Allardyce who had made it clear to his players before kick-off that he will not tolerate reckless dismissals.

Speaking after the match, Allardyce said whoever wore the armband while Livermore was suspended would have a chance to keep it – with Matt Phillips getting the nod.

But when asked if Livermore will keep the captaincy should he return tomorrow, Allardyce hinted he will.

"I don’t see why not –he’s had his fine, he’s took his punishment, he’s back on the pitch and I wouldn’t expect him to get sent off again," the boss said.

"He knows how serious it is, by letting himself down and letting the team down by doing something as silly as he did the other week against Villa."

Albion will be without two unnamed players for the trip to Blackpool after they tested positive for Covid-19.

The Baggies will also be without Conor Townsend who is recovering from a knee injury and Hal Robson-Kanu who is again in a cast after receiving a kick to the arm he broke at Southampton.

Better news for Albion, though, is that Sam Field is back in training following a minor knee problem.

"Conor Townsend hasn’t trained," Allardyce said when asked about the trio.

"Sam Field has trained but Kanu hasn’t – he is still in his plaster, his cast.

"We do have one or two players isolating. We had some positive coronavirus cases, but most of our positives came from staff rather than players, but there are a few."

Albion will also be without striker Karlan Grant who has been ruled out for five or six weeks with a broken foot.