Roberto Di Matteo today stressed the need for patience as James Morrison prepared for his long-awaited comeback in the FA Cup at The Hawthorns tonight.

Morrison’s comeback after 10 months on the sidelines will provide an intriguing sub-plot to a Cup night that could set up a quarter-final derby with rivals Villa.

But The Baggies head coach is anxious that fans should not expect too much, too soon from the midfielder, who has been sidelined with a heel problem since the end of his impressive Premier League campaign.

“Morrison’s been doing well but competitive games are completely different,” said the Italian, who watched the midfield man complete an hour in a behind-closed-doors practice match on Monday.

“The fact he has been out of the game for a long time means we have to be careful with him.

“We’ve been waiting for him for almost a whole season and we know how important a player he can be for us.

“I wouldn’t put too many high hopes on him coming into the team and being straight on top of his game.

“It’s going to take him a little while to get back into the rhythm of the games.

“But he’s quite positive and he’s looking forward to being involved again.

“It’s been very frustrating for him to be out this long.”

Di Matteo’s caution means Morrison is highly unlikely to start against Reading in tonight’s fifth-round replay, although he is expected to be in the squad for the first time since he played at Manchester City on April 19 last year.

And he will join a team still smarting from Sunday’s defeat at Bristol City in the Championship – a result that ended their nine-match unbeaten run.

Di Matteo has admitted the latest Cup assignment has arrived at a bad time in the Baggies’ fixture list, especially after the original game at The Madejski Stadium left Albion battered and bruised and with utility man Gonzalo Jara ruled out for the rest of the season.

But the two-time Cup winner is adamant his side will be committed to claiming a quarter-final place once the action kicks off tonight.

“It was very costly for us in the first match, especially losing Jara for the rest of the season,” admitted Di Matteo. “That was a big blow for us.

“I’m aware the last game obviously cost us and that was a shame.

“If you can get through to the next round without too many problems that is always better.

“A replay is not ideal for any club but, as I said immediately after the game at Reading, I’m glad we’re still in the Cup and have a chance to get into the next round because it is a great competition.

“We’ll be doing our best to get through to the next round.

“We will put a team out that is capable of winning the game.

“Everyone is going to be required to put a lot of effort in to try and win the game.”

Tonight’s game is the second of three in six days for the Baggies and it comes just three days after their surprise slip-up at Ashton Gate.

But Di Matteo says his side are determined to right the wrongs of their rare Championship defeat.

“We don’t like to lose,” said the Hawthorns head coach.

“We want to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

“In the Championship you have to take it account you will lose a game every now and then.

“You learn from your mistakes and defeats – and we made a few mistakes the other day.”

Reading arrive at The Hawthorns this evening chasing a piece of history having been denied a first quarter-final appearance in 83 years by Joe Mattock’s late equaliser in the first game.

The only other time the club made the last eight was in 1926/27, when they were beaten in the semi-finals by eventual winners Cardiff.

But they have already compiled a memorable run this season having beaten Premier League pair Liverpool and Burnley in earlier rounds.

Recently-appointed manager Brian McDermott said: “We want to go through. It will be the first time in 80-odd years that a Reading team has got that far and we want to do it.

“If you get into the quarter finals and become one of the last eight in the country it’s a fantastic achievement.

“If you think it’s been 83 years these guys can make their own history on the night.

“These guys went to Liverpool and that game will be remembered for many years to come. Let’s hope the same happens with West Brom.

“I think history is very important. This is fantastic club and we have a chance of reaching the last eight.

“If you get there anything can happen. One more win and you are at Wembley. We’ve really, really enjoyed this cup run and we want it to continue.

“I went to three Wembley cup finals with Arsenal in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

“I went when we lost to Ipswich 1-0, I went when we beat Manchester United 3-2 and when we lost 1-0 to West Ham.

“The semi-finals were amazing games in front of 60,000 at Villa Park because you were one step away from Wembley. They were special, special games.

“Now we want to go through, we want to do it. We felt we were unfortunate in the first game but we have another opportunity.

“West Brom are third in the Championship, they have good players and they’re very solid.

“They didn’t have a great result on Sunday. I was at the game and they controlled the first half. But after that Bristol City played really well and they deserved to win.”

Royals skipper Ivar Ingimarsson is set to return to the side in place of Zurab Khizanishvili, who is cup tied.

Striker Simon Church and midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson face late fitness tests while Czech midfielder Marek Matejovsky will be in the squad having recovered from a groin injury.