West Bromwich Albion 'sticking together' through injury hell

Jan 20 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Mail

TONY Mowbray has revealed Albion’s growing injury list may have scuppered several fringe players’ chances of going out on loan during the transfer window.

Forward Sherjill MacDonald has already joined Belgian top-flight outfit Roeselare on loan until the end of the season and defender Jared Hodgkiss has recently returned from a loan spell with Aberdeen but his chances of heading back out for more first team experience will depend on if any of Mowbray’s walking wounded return soon.

Mowbray currently has eight first team players carrying injuries but defenders Gianni Zuiverloon (knee), Jonas Olsson (knee) and Abdoulaye Meite (hamstring), could all return to training this week, although Mowbray is unlikely to risk any of them for the visit of Burnley to The Hawthorns in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

“I have an affinity with my players,” Mowbray explained.

“If they are not playing and are a little bit unhappy I don’t want to stand in the way of their careers and their lives.