Boss open to offers for Chaplow and Clement

Tony Mowbray has confirmed Burnley have made an initial enquiry into signing their former midfielder Richard Chaplow. The former Under-21 international joined the Baggies for £1.5 million on transfer deadline day back in January 2005 from the Clarets with Albion now prepared to listen to offers for the 22-year-old.

"I've had a conversation with Burnley's manager but it appears at this moment they are not in a position to make any progress on those discussions," Mowbray said.

"Richard's a good lad and gets on with his work.

"If I ask him to play in the team or the reserves he gets on with it.

"Obviously, he has a frustration in him because he wants to play.

"While he's not screaming and shouting 'get me out of here' from the rooftops, I understand, as he does, that if the right offer were put to us we would listen.

"If not, I'm more than happy to have Richard as part of our squad."

Albion's longest serving player Neil Clement could also be heading out of The Hawthorns on loan as the defender steps up his return from a long-term knee injury. The former Chelsea man is now ready for first-team action after completing two consecutive reserve fixtures.

"Neil is fit and is somebody, who in an ideal world, wants to play football again," Mowbray continued.

"He feels he's ready and he's probably correct.

"From my prospective, which Neil fully understands, it would have been a huge ask to stick him in at left-back at Charlton on Saturday after he's been out for so long.

"He feels as if he's ready to start playing again and if the right opportunity comes along for Neil to play somewhere on loan, I will listen to that."