Injury boost for Baggies

Last updated : 10 September 2008 By Wba-mad Editor

Albion have been given a triple injury boost with the news that Abdoulaye Meite and long term knee injury victim Filipe Teixeria will return to training before the weekend; with Neil Clement also on the road to recovery.


Ivory Coast
international Meite was forced off on his old stomping ground at The Reebok after only 45 minutes due to a calf strain but is expected to take part in training on Thursday. Portuguese ace Teixeria has not seen first-team action since suffering serious cruciate ligament damage against Plymouth Argyle in March and is expected to return to Albion's training ground before the weekend to continue his rehabilitation.

"Abdoulaye will hopefully take part in training tomorrow. He has been working very hard physically but staying off his calf. Hopefully he will be fully back with us tomorrow," First-team coach Peter Grant said.

"Filipe comes back today and hopefully will train with us tomorrow.

"He has done a lot of football work by all accounts. He will be assessed, have all of his fitness tests and hopefully he can start football work with us tomorrow.

"It will be good to have him involved. He is progressing and we are delighted because that will be like another new signing.

"It will be great to get him back and get his fitness up. I am looking forward to working with him, because I like what I saw of him last season."

There's also good news for Neil Clement who has told he doesn't need an operation on the injury to his right knee he suffered in the Baggies' final game of pre-season. It was initially feared Albion's longest serving player would require another operation on his troublesome knees but will now continue his recovery with Albion's physios.

"Neil is in rehabilitation working hard at the moment. We have a great backroom staff who will look after him and not take any chances with him.

"He is working very hard in the swimming pool as well as here. People ask how long he will be out for but that is a very difficult one to answer.

"It is one of those day-to-day things and we're not going to put a timescale on it."