Clarke unhappy with fixtures

Jonas Olsson: Important defender was asked to play the full 90 minutes for Sweden in midweek

West Brom boss Steve Clarke has criticised the international fixtures that saw two key defenders play full games on the eve of the season.

Sweden's Jonas Olsson and Northern Ireland's Gareth McAuley both played the entire games for their respective countries just days before the start of the Premier League.

That's a situation that Clarke regards as far from ideal as he prepares to lead the Baggies out for the first time in a competitive game when his team face Liverpool at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

"Jonas Olsson played 90 for Sweden and Gareth McAuley played 90," said Clarke.

"It has upset me a little bit, yes. Two experienced central defenders didn't need 90 minutes of football after travelling to play for their countries before the opening of the Premier League.

"I don't understand it.

"It's placed in a ridiculous place in the calendar. It's been addressed and it will be taken out of the fixture list and the quicker that happens the better."