Albion are sweating on the fitness of key duo Gianni Zuiverloon and James Morrison ahead of Saturday’s derby clash with Villa.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray is still concerned by the knee injury troubling Zuiverloon – the man pencilled in to take on Villa dangerman Ashley Young.

Chief creator Morrison is also still struggling with the groin injury that kept him out of the FA Cup draw with Peterborough on Saturday.

The Midlands cold snap has hampered the duo’s ability to test out their injuries, with frozen pitches at Albion’s training ground forcing the squad indoors. Neither man will return to training until at least Thursday.

Mowbray said: “None of our injured players trained yesterday and won’t train until Thursday. You don’t put people with knocks and strains indoors on harder pitches.

“They will need to train, so Thursday will be the acid test for them. If they don’t train then they’ll be doubts.”

Mowbray is already without centre-back Abdoulaye Meite for the Villa clash, although the Ivory Coast international is making progress in his rehabilitation.

The manager said: “Abou is a week away, maybe two weeks. Whether he is back for the cup game or Middlesbrough at home, or maybe the one after that, I don’t know.”