Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has saluted fitness guru Ade Mafe for helping the club rescue priceless Championship points throughout December.

The Baggies have scored vital late goals against Derby and QPR to claim draws having been behind after 80 minutes.

Di Matteo believes Mafe’s influence has been vital in enabling his side to score key goals in the dying moments of matches.

He said: “Physically we are in very good shape. We can manage to run for 94 minutes and the consequence is that sometimes you nick goals in the dying stages. I have known Ade for a long time and I know for a fact that we will be one of the fittest teams in the league.

“Hopefully that can carry us through to where we want to go.”

Di Matteo is hoping the fightback from 2-0 down to 2-2 against QPR will give his side a major psychological shot in the arm.

He said: “It’s another point on the board which moved us towards our target and it’s always better to pick up a point rather than nothing.

“Certainly coming back from 2-0 down gives a bit of confidence to the players that they can do it.”

Mafe is now working closely with Ishmael Miller and James Morrison as the duo look to battle back from long-term injury problems before the end of January.

But the Italian has admitted that another long-term injury victim, defender Neil Clement, is approaching ‘decision time’ over his future following extensive knee problems.

Clement has seen several specialists in recent months over his recovery from knee surgery but Di Matteo, whose own playing career was ended early by injuries, believes the his former Chelsea team-mate will soon have to make a tough decision.

The Italian said: “We have been watching his development and his progress and there has to be a decision made by him soon. Either he can play or he has to make a decision.

“It’s not an easy one. It’s a difficult time for a professional football player, especially if you have to retire through injury. But we are all here to support him and we have done so in the past.”