Race on for Baggies duo

Tony Mowbray will give both Gianni Zuiverloon and James Morrison until Thursday to prove they are fit enough to face Aston Villa.

They are among the walking wounded the Baggies boss will be checking on ahead of the Midlands derby this weekend as both are doubtful with knee and groin injuries respectively.

Abdoulaye Meite will miss the game and Filipe Teixeira is also doubtful as he struggles to overcome a calf injury.

Albion have not been helped by the weather which has forced them to switch training from outside to their indoor facility.

Mowbray told the Birmingham Mail, he said: "You don't put people with knocks and strains indoors. We will get on with what we've got. Regarding Gianni and James, I don't know, they will need to train. They didn't train yesterday so Thursday will be the acid test for them.

"If they don't train then they'll be doubts. Abou is a week away, maybe two weeks away. Whether it falls for the cup game or Middlesbrough at home, maybe even the one after that, I don't know."