Curtis Davies is hoping to complete a Wayne Rooney-like recovery from a broken foot - and rescue Albion from a defensive shortfall.
Davies, the most coveted defender outside the Premiership, was initially ruled out for more than two months when he broke his metartasal - just like Rooney before England’s World Cup campaign.
But Albion are now keeping their fingers crossed that the brilliant 21-year-old defender will be ready for a return to action for his side’s next game .Davies suffered the injury five weeks ago and Albion’s early assessment suggested he would be out for the rest of October.
Later tests suggested the break was not quite as bad as first feared, but a return for Davies at Ipswich a week on Saturday would still be an ahead-of-schedule comeback which is delighting caretaker boss Nigel Pearson.
And the possible comeback of the England Under 21 defender could not be more timely.
Paul McShane’s sending-off against Leeds at the weekend means he must miss the Portman Road encounter as he serves a one-game ban and fellow centre-halves Neil Clement (knee) and Thomas Gaardsoe (groin) remain on the long-term injury list.
That leaves Chris Perry manning the barricades as Albion’s only specialist central defender.
Pearson reckons Davies has a big chance of shaving three weeks off the 10-week recovery period initially forecast.
“Paul’s sending-off gives us a problem for the next game - but Curtis is very close now,” said Pearson.
He is not included in tonight’s reserve squad for the Pontins League clash at Bradford, but could get a run out against Birmingham’s reserves next Monday.
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