Michael Appleton today insisted Albion would welcome an extended run in the Carling Cup despite the prospect of wholesale changes at The Hawthorns tonight.

The Baggies’ fringe players look set for another outing when big-spending Manchester City come to town to compete for a place in the last 16.

And boss Roberto Di Matteo will be watching anxiously after seeing Marek Cech ruled out for around two months with an injury picked up in the second-round victory at Leyton Orient.

But first-team coach Appleton has rejected thoughts that success in the knockout competition could impinge on the main task of assuring Premier League survival.

“I think it is a nice distraction to have sometimes,” said Appleton.

“Sometimes it helps to take the mind away from playing in the Premier League because it is very intense and there is a lot of pressure that goes with it.

“Sometimes, by having a cup run, you can take away some of the pressure you have on a week-to-week basis and all the preparation that goes on for Premier League games.

“So, if it is a distraction, I think it will be a good distraction. And if we are fortunate enough to go on a run, I think that will be good news for everyone.

“There are a lot of players who I would imagine are frustrated or want to be in the 11 or the 18 on a Saturday. For the ones who do get a chance tonight, I am sure they will be striving to take it.”

Albion’s back-up players look set to take centre stage with the likes of Gianni Zuiverloon, Pablo Ibanez and Roman Bednar in contention to start.

City boss Roberto Mancini is also set to ring the changes, although the spending power of his club’s Middle Eastern owners means he is still likely to field a team stocked heavily with internationals.

City’s wealth has changed the landscape of English football. But Appleton, a native of the north west and a former Manchester United trainee, believes tonight’s opponents can have a positive effect on the game.

And he believes the match is an opportunity for the second string at The Hawthorns to push their claims for a Premier League chance.

“All of a sudden they find themselves as one of the richest clubs in the world, if not the richest,” said Appleton.

“It brings that bit of extra competition to the Premier League, which is a good thing.

“I think it’s a good thing that’s happened, as long as it stays under control, is monitored and doesn’t get out of control.

“They don’t have to rely on the 25-man Premier League squad for the cups.

“They could theoretically put out three teams that could compete at various levels of the Premier League so we are expecting a tough game.

“It will be like a Premier League game and the onus is on the people who do get an opportunity because the manager will be able to look at them and decide whether they are ready to play in the league.

“He can use it to decide where they are at because they are going to play against Premier League opposition.

“For years people might have said the Premier League has been two leagues or even three. All of a sudden we find a league where, if the top four or five have a great day, the rest of us have to finish second best — and we have to accept that.

“But at the minute there are a lot of clubs surprising each other and taking points of each other.”

Tonight’s clash provides a clash between two Italian bosses with Mancini coming face-to-face with Baggies head coach Roberto Di Matteo, who has received widespread praise for turning around Saturday’s derby with Birmingham.

And Appleton has been impressed by the Baggies’ foreign boss since his arrival at The Hawthorns.

“He seems to be coping well,” said the former midfielder. “We are doing OK at the moment.

“The gaffer is one of those people who doesn’t get too excited and doesn’t let things get to him.

“He likes to process things and think before he acts and I think that is a good trait.”