Record signing Nacer Chadli nearing West Brom return
Albion have been handed a boost with the news Nacer Chadli is nearing a long-awaited return from injury.
The Baggies’ £18million record signing has played just 16 minutes since October due a thigh injury.
But he has now returned to training and could even feature in next Saturday’s home game with Burnley.
Boss Alan Pardew is hopeful Chadli will be fit enough to take a place on the bench as the rock bottom Baggies seek a victory which would keep alive their slender hopes of avoiding relegation.
On loan Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is also battling to back in time for the visit of the Clarets.
The 28-year-old England international has made just three appearances for the Baggies since joining during the January transfer window and has not featured since being forced off just four minutes into last month’s defeat at Chelsea.
Yet Albion will again be without James Morrison, with the long-serving midfielder still yet to fully shake-off the Achilles problem which has kept him out of action since October.
Pardew, meanwhile, will be hoping Chadli’s impending return to action can spark a Baggies attacking unit which has lacked creativity and scored the fewest goals in the Premier League.
The Belgium international has made only four appearances in all competitions this term due to persistent thigh problems.
He returned after two months out in December but suffered a recurrence of the problem just minutes after coming on as a second half substitute in Albion’s 3-1 defeat at Stoke.
Pardew has previous described his absence as a “hefty blow” to Albion.
The boss said: “We’re desperate to have him back because we’re running out of time so we are chasing him along.
“We are at that stage of the season where they can’t have any kind of recurrence and we’re hoping that when they come back, they will be OK.”
