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Slaven Bilic provides West Brom update ahead of Luton trip

Albion boss Slaven Bilic has confirmed Charlie Austin will feature against Luton after coming through his debut against Millwall unscathed.

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Slaven Bilic (AMA)

The deadline day arrival took just nine minutes to score his first Baggies goal in the Carabao Cup defeat to Millwall on Tuesday.

Austin has been troubled by injuries over the past few years.

But Bilic said he was “positively surprised” with how the forward performed on his first outing for the club.

“Charlie has done really well,” the head coach said

“It was the plan for him to play 45 minutes, maybe 60 (against Millwall).

“He said at half-time he left good and I spoke with him yesterday.

“You know with players they are going to tell you they are fit and well.

“But it’s a bit different with the players who know we have bought them to play and who have the experience he’s got.

“What he says is very important.

“It (Millwall) was a bit of a positive surprise, you don’t lose your touch but you can lose a bit of your touch in matches when you haven’t played for such a long time.

“But he didn’t. I was positively surprised with his touch and his fitness was okay.

“We’ll see how he is in tomorrow. You never know in football, but he will definitely participate in the game.

“We’ll have to see if it is from the start or in the second half.”

Bilic confirmed Hal Robson-Kanu and Ahmed Hegazi are the only absentees for tomorrow’s trip to Kenilworth Road.

"Hal missed the game on Tuesday - he has a bit of a back problem,” Bilic continued.

"It’s nothing serious. A spasm.

“He is going to train today. But he will not be in the squad.

“Apart from that, touch wood, we are okay.

“We are still waiting for Hegazi. He is going to be five weeks or whatever.”

Bilic says there are no problems with fatigue despite Albion having played on Tuesday.

“There is no fatigue at all,” he added.

“We are fit, we are ready. We are up for it and we are looking forward to the game.

“If we had one extra day, if the game was on Sunday, it wouldn't change anything. I wouldn’t swap it if I could.”