CHRIS Brunt is desperate for this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester United and Arsenal to be resolved at the first time of asking to ensure Albion do not go a month without a match.

The Baggies’ clash against Arsenal, scheduled for Saturday week, will be crossed out if the Gunners draw at Old Trafford as the weekend of March 19/20 will be the only feasible date for a replay.

Due to the international break at the end of this month any postponement of the Arsenal fixture would leave Albion without a game until April 2 – which would be four straight weekends without a match.

Although some of the players will be involved in international duty, Brunt is keen for Albion to continue their momentum – not least as the intensity of Premier League football cannot be produced in training ground games or reserve-team games.

“I hope it’s resolved this Saturday,” said Brunt, speaking at the club’s Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S) scheme at the NIA yesterday. “We don’t want more fixtures although it’s not exactly going to become a backlog.

“But we know that with the international break coming up at the end of the month we will end up going a long time without any fixtures and that’s not ideal.

“We want the game to come round and try and get a bit of a run going.

“We have six points from four games so we will want to play against Arsenal.