Albion duo Gianni Zuiverloon and James Morrison look set to win their battles to be fit for the derby.

The pair both trained yesterday having missed last weekend’s FA Cup draw with Peterborough.

Both are set to reclaim their places in the Villa Park derby, provided they emerge unscathed from the final pre-match training session.

Filipe Teixeira also returned after almost a month out with a calf strain and could make a return to the substitutes’ bench.

Manager Tony Mowbray said: “Morrison, Zuiverloon and Teixiera trained yesterday. Abdoulaye Meite didn’t.

“We will wait and see if there is any reaction from them and decide on their fitness but they haven’t trained in the week.

“We have been indoors and, when you are carrying knocks and strains, it is not ideal to be pounding a hard surface. We will wait and see if there is any reaction before deciding if they are going to be available.”

Long-term absentee Ishmael Miller has hit the long road to recovery, after successful surgery on Wednesday on his season-ending cruciate knee ligament injury.

Mowbray added: “Ishmael had his operation in a London hospital and it went well. He is happy as he can be.”