Albion hit by defender blow

Albion will be a second central defender down when the players report back for pre-season training.

Utility man Shelton Martis was injured in his last international appearance for the Netherland Antilles and will spend at least the first fortnight sitting out the Baggies’ pre-season schedule.

Martis will be cursing his luck over the calf strain suffered in the 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Haiti on June 22.

With Martin Albrechtsen choosing to go to Derby, Martis could have had an opportunity to move up the pecking order of central defender.