West Brom manager Tony Mowbray has received good and bad news during the festive period.

 

Defender Neil Clement, who missed most of last season through a knee injury, will not return this season following surgery on an injury sustained during pre-season. Whilst his progress is ’on schedule’, an appearance during 2008/9 is extremely unlike according to the Baggies boss.

Better news is the return of Filipe Teixeira following a calf strain suffered during the warm prior to the Man City match, and Gianni Zuiverloon whose hamstring problem should clear up sufficiently to see him in training before Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Peterborough.

The Baggies have had a testing time during the first half of their Premiership campaign yet results have kept them in touch with the pack. Mowbray will be looking forward hoping for a trouble-free 2009 on the injury front if Premiership football is to be played at the Hawthorns for a second consecutive season.