Albion striker Ishmael Miller has stepped up his comeback from double knee surgery with his first match action in 13 months.

The powerful forward completed 45 minutes of action in the Baggies’ 4-1 victory over Port Vale in a private match at the Hawthorns. The specially arranged behind-closed-doors friendly was the latest stage of Miller’s comeback, from cruciate ligament injuries that have kept him sidelined for more than a year.

Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo hope the former Manchester City man remains on course to be available for first team action in February.

The head coachsaid: “Ishmael was involved yesterday. It’s just part of his rehab to get him on the pitch in part of a reserves game.”

Midfielder Robert Koren also stepped up his recovery from a hernia operation by playing and scoring in yesterday’s match, two days after making his comeback as a substitute in the FA Cup win at Huddersfield. Sam Mantom was on target twice for Albion yesterday, while Chris Wood grabbed the other.

But the Baggies are still waiting for news on Neil Clement’s future, with the defender facing a make-or-break update on a last-ditch medical treatment on his knee injury.

James Morrison is continuing his rehabilitation after his heel problem, while Di Matteo is hoping for a clean bill of health for Friday’s Championship meeting with Nottingham Forest at the Hawthorns.