Filipe Teixeira on fitness comeback trail

Sep 10 2008 by Chris Lepkowski

FILIPE Teixeira returns to training tomorrow as Albion get a fitness boost ahead of Saturday's visit of West Ham United.

The Baggies hope to have Abdoulaye Meite fit following his calf-strain in last week's game against Bolton.

And, in the longer term, Teixeira and Neil Clement are continuing to make progress from their injury problems.

Teixeira, who suffered a cruciate injury back in March, was back at the training ground today and, all being well, should resume training tomorrow.

Clement, meanwhile, is undergoing rehab on the knee injury that he suffered during Albion's final pre-season friendly last month.

First-team coach Peter Grant admitted that no date had yet been set for Teixeira's return but believes his comeback will be akin to signing a new player.

"Filipe comes back today and will train with us on Thursday," said Grant.

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

"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 and I am looking forward to working with him because I like what I saw of him last season."

Grant was also optimistic about centre-half Meite, while revealing that fellow defender Clement was unlikely to need surgery on his injured knee.

"Abdoulaye will hopefully take part in training on Thursday," added Grant.

"He has been working very hard physically but staying off his calf but hopefully he will be fully back with us by Thursday.

"And Neil is in rehabilitation working hard at the moment.

"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.

"I don’t think he will need an operation. It’s just one of those things we have to monitor.

"Sometimes you try to let things heel by themselves and then you discover it’s quicker to have a tidy-up.

"But at the moment he is rehabilitating with the fitness coach and hopefully he will be better sooner rather than later."