Roy Hodgson hopeful West Brom's injury crisis is easing as Jonas Olsson and Shane Long edge closer to a return.
Baggies duo Olsson and Long could return to face Stoke
Roy Hodgson is hopeful West Brom's injury crisis is easing as Jonas Olsson and Shane Long edge closer to a return to action against Stoke on Saturday.
Olsson has missed the last four games with a calf injury and will add much needed cover to the Baggies defence with Gareth McAuley suffering with injury.
Long has been suffering with a back problem, which restricted him to a place on the bench in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Norwich, but that has now eased.
Paul Scharner and Billy Jones remain doubts though - Scharner came off after 63 minutes at the weekend with an Achilles injury, whilst Jones is battling a hamstring injury picked up in training last week.
Hodgson told the club's
official website: "The injury situation is getting better without a shadow of a doubt.
"Jonas Olsson was training yesterday, which was good. One or two of the other ones who have had slight strains like McAuley and Shorey, seem to be much better.
"Scharner has been playing through an Achilles problem but now it has become more acute. I don't think it is a major, major problem, but of course the Achilles is a tricky part of the body.
"He's a doubt for Saturday, as is Jones, who has a hamstring strain.
"Shane Long is working on his back problem - but that is getting better too."
