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Slaven Bilic: West Brom 'cautious' over Grady Diangana return

Slaven Bilic is still optimistic Grady Diangana will play a major part in Albion's Championship run-in.

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Grady Diangana of West Bromwich Albion is forced off injured after a few minutes. (AMA)

Diangana has struggled with injury in recent months, initially missing four games after suffering an injury in the 3-2 win over Birmingham City.

The West Ham loanee returned to action for the FA Cup clash at Charlton, only to suffer a hamstring injury minutes into the game against Stoke.

It was hoped that the winger would be fit and able to play a part in the final ten games of the season, but Bilic believes that is now unlikely.

"It’s probably not going to be ten," Bilic said, ahead of the game with Wigan.

"It ain’t going to be ten. It’s probably going to be seven, eight, if possible nine. Now it’s that fine margin. When the injury happens, you are very free to say ‘eight weeks, nine weeks’, but when it comes down to the the last week, you say ‘well, another one, another one’.

"We’re more cautious, yes, but he feels good. He’s feeling very good to be fair. Grady is now in that transition with rehab and training with the full squad.

"He’s on the pitch, everyday, but he’s not training with us. He’s doing his running and stuff, so he’s short in joining us from the training, but Gibbo and Gareth are not in that category. They’re training with us."

Kieran Gibbs and Gareth Barry have also had injury problems of their own this season, with Gibbs struggling throughout the campaign - most recently with a hamstring problem, whilst Gareth Barry re-joined Albion only to see injury curtail his first-team opportunities following the turn of the year.

Bilic confirmed that the pair are in full training - although Gibbs is still not ready to return to the match day squad, with the defender still working toward playing in match situations during training.

"Kieran played only one half,” Bilic said.

"That game was a snowy one, a couple of weeks ago. He did it, he’s training with us. It would be ideal to have them playing on a big pitch, for under 23s. We’re trying to compromise and do that in the sessions.

"They did it a few days ago, when we played Preston, they did a session on a bigger pitch with a longer distance and everything. We are trying to make them more ready and prepared for the games.

"It would be better if they had played, but they’re training with us and they’re experienced players. They’re okay, they’re good in training."

Meanwhile, Nathan Ferguson's status is still to be confirmed, with the youngster awaiting full results following surgery.

The 19-year-old saw a late move to Crystal Palace fall through in January, with the Eagles highlighting an issue with his knee.

"Nathan is doing his rehab, with the medical staff,

"I still don’t know [the results of surgery]. I still don’t know but it should be okay."