More injury woes for Albion

Last updated : 24 February 2009 By Wba-mad Editor

Tony Mowbray's preparations for Albion's trip to Goodison Park have been dealt a blow after new-boy Youssouf Mulumbu and Filipe Teixeria joined the Baggies' long injury list.

The on loan Paris St. Germain midfield was in contention to make his first start in Albion colours against Fulham prior to picking up a thigh injury. Fellow midfielder Teixeria has also been forced to miss training due to a fractured toe with his fitness now in doubt.

The duo join long term injury victims Neil Clement and Ishmael Miller on the sidelines with Mowbray also admitting the game on Merseyside looks to be too soon for the returning Jonathan Greening and Jonas Olsson.

"It's frustrating for the boy," Mowbray said when quizzed on the absence of Mulumbu at Craven Cottage.

"He trained very well during our four days away in Spain.

"He's a very enthusiastic and competitive boy.

"For no apparent reason, he felt a thigh problem in training on Friday.

"He pulled up, which was a blow to him and potentially to us, because he might have had a part to play at Fulham.

"You've got to be very careful with a thigh injury.

"Hopefully, it is just a few strained fibres and not a tear because it was very innocuous.

"He's didn't do anything to make it happen, other than the fact he works very hard and continually runs.

"Since the day he walked through the door, he hasn't seemed to stop running!

"It's possibly an intensity injury from working and trying so hard.

"Maybe it's just caught up with him a little bit after a week or two.

"Hopefully, it's not too bad, although I would suggest he probably won't be ready for Saturday or Tuesday.

"We'll wait and see after that."

Albion skipper Greening had pencilled in the Everton fixture for his return from a medial knee ligament injury, and although he and defender Olsson are back in light training, the game against Arsenal looks more likely for the pair to return to action.

"I don't think either Jonno or Jonas have got a chance for the weekend," Mowbray continued.

"They're both coming on really well.

"They're out on the training pitch with the physio but they're not joining in full training yet.

"Jonathan might join in some light training on Thursday but, for me, there is no chance of us throwing him in.

"He probably needs a week's training and we'll see how he comes through it.

"You need to train so that when someone catches you, or you get caught in a tackle you're not expecting, it is properly tested.

"That's when the inside of the knee opens up.

"I had a few of those injuries myself during my career and it is something you can protect by tensing your muscles.

"The problem you have with it is when you're in a collision or someone catches you.

"Jonno's not far away but I would suggest he needs some training first.

"I wouldn't rule the Arsenal game out but I would suggest it will come too soon for both of them.

"I think we've got to make sure Jonno doesn't come back too early and then ends up missing another six weeks because the season would be virtually over then.

"We need to make sure we keep him for some very crucial games coming up.

"He's an important player and it's important we don't rush him back and suffer the consequences of him breaking down.

"In an ideal world, we need to get him back and then keep him back for the rest of the season."