Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has admitted defender Jonas Olsson’s injury has left a major void in the team.

The head coach believes the loss of the influential vice-captain to a strained Achilles could be behind his team’s recent slump.

The Baggies collected just one point from the five matches since Olsson was injured in the 2-1 home win over Fulham.

And head coach Di Matteo admitted: “He’s a very important player for the team. It might be coincidence or not that we’ve had a little dip since he got injured.

“But he’s certainly someone we’re missing. On the field he is one that drives other people on the pitch. We can’t put a date on his recovery yet.

“It is one we have to assess and monitor on a regular basis and see how it progresses.

“He has a strain on his Achilles tendon – a little tear.”

Olsson will again by missing tomorrow when the Baggies travel to Everton while Chris Brunt looks set to be sidelined again by a thigh strain.

But Di Matteo’s other injury concerns have cleared up ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

He said: “Chris Brunt is doubtful. He’s getting better but he’s not 100 per cent yet.

“He is a very important player. He is creative, his set-piece deliveries and physical presence.

“He’s another player who is very important to us and we don’t seem to be able to replace them that easily.

“Olsson is still out but everyone else is in reasonably good shape.

“Steven Reid and James Morrison trained yesterday and are okay.”

Di Matteo received a timely boost yesterday when Ishmael Miller returned to training after a thigh problem, but the head coach is putting no pressure on the striker to figure in the first team after two injury-blighted years.

He said: “Ishmael joined in training today for the first time since his injury. He’s basically been injured since I walked into the club.

“I’ve never really had the chance to play him. First of all he needs to work hard, get his match fitness as much as he can and then show his qualities.

“Everybody responds differently to adversity and it’s difficult for me to say if it’s playing on his mind or not, so you will have to ask him.”