The timing of Jonathan Greening’s looming two-match suspension could prove a blessing in disguise, says Albion manager Tony Mowbray.

The midfielder will sit out Saturday’s play-off crunch with Southampton and next Tuesday’s trip to Colchester after collecting his 10th booking of the season of the season in the fifth minute of injury time at Hull.

But Mowbray insisted he would rather Greening miss games now than during what promises to be a nail-biting run-in.

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The timing of Jonathan Greening’s looming two-match suspension could prove a blessing in disguise, says Albion manager Tony Mowbray.

The midfielder will sit out Saturday’s play-off crunch with Southampton and next Tuesday’s trip to Colchester after collecting his 10th booking of the season of the season in the fifth minute of injury time at Hull.

But Mowbray insisted he would rather Greening miss games now than during what promises to be a nail-biting run-in.

“It was always going to be coming,” said Mowbray. “He wasn’t going to avoid another booking in the last 15 games. For me, it was best to get it out of the way, get his suspension served and get on with it.

“There was never going to be an ideal time because the longer it went on the more intense the matches would become, because hopefully we’ll either be striving for points to keep our noses in front or catch the teams in front of us.

“For me, it’s best to take the booking now and get on with it. We will make the changes we have to make after assessing training this week.”

Greening’s absence could mean a recall for Darren Carter, providing the former Blues man can recover from a leg injury sustained in last night’s reserve win over Bradford.

But Mowbray admits it won’t be easy replacing one of his side’s most consistent players. “I have been delighted with his performance level over the part I have been here,” he said.