Albion defender Abdoulaye Meite is losing his battle to be fit for the Baggies’ trip to Manchester United on Saturday.

Manager Tony Mowbray has also warned midfield duo Chris Brunt and Filipe Teixeira not to risk their long- term fitness by striving to make their comebacks at Old Trafford.

Ivory Coast defender Meite seems almost certain to miss out against the European champions, after Mowbray revealed that he has not yet rejoined training following his calf injury.

Teixeira is likely to be in the squad after almost seven months out with a knee injury, while Brunt is also hoping to return from hamstring trouble.

Mowbray is adamant he will not take shortcuts in an effort to include the two playmakers.

He said: “Hopefully we can get Chris Brunt back in full training this week and then we will see how he comes through it.  I think it’s very dangerous to rush hamstring injuries so I will leave it to him.

“We will see how he feels and he will do extra work after training, putting extra pressure on it to see whether it will stand up to a match situation”.

Teixeira is due to figure in a private practice match against Leicester’s reserves tomorrow and is likely to travel to Old Trafford if he comes through unscathed, after a week’s training.

The Portuguese midfielder is desperate to make his Premier League debut against the champions  – but Mowbray is unwilling gamble on forcing either him or Brunt back into action too soon.

Mowbray said: “They all want to be involved, but they will be ready when they are ready. Their bodies will tell them when they are ready and if they push too hard in training this week there is a risk they might break down again.

‘”Meite is a bit further behind the other two as he has not been around our training sessions yet.

“Chris Brunt joined in with the warm-ups last week and Filipe is doing everything but Meite is still working with the physios.”