Brunt and Gibbs back to boost Baggies

Posted Friday, October 04, 2019 by PA

West Brom have been handed a double fitness boost ahead of the Sky Bet Championship clash with Cardiff.

Club captain Chris Brunt (groin) and Kieran Gibbs (virus) both missed the 1-0 defeat to Leeds on Tuesday, which saw Albion drop from top to third.

But the pair have returned to training this week and boss Slaven Bilic is expected to name them in his matchday squad.

Ahmed Hegazi remains sidelined with an ankle problem, but the Egypt defender is nearing fitness and could return straight after the international break.

Cardiff could be without injured midfielder Joe Ralls for the second successive game at The Hawthorns.

Ralls missed Wednesday’s 3-0 home win over QPR and Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock has described him as “touch and go”.

Lee Tomlin could be rested with Callum Paterson, a scorer in midweek after coming off the bench, ready to return to the starting line-up.

Sol Bamba (knee) and Isaac Vassell (quad) remain out but goalkeeper Neil Etheridge could be available for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in the opening-day defeat to Wigan.