West Brom today recalled a trio of players from loan spells as they braced themselves for potential selection worries over Christmas.

Gonzalo Jara Reyes, George Thorne and Marc-Antoine Fortune could all make surprise returns to the squad at Newcastle tomorrow.

The Baggies look set to lose in-form James Morrison to a hamstring injury for the St James’ Park trip and they also have concerns over Paul Scharner and Youssouf Mulumbu, with leg and knee problems respectively.

And, with Scharner and Steven Reid both one yellow card from suspension and Mulumbu two bookings from a ban, boss Roy Hodgson has brought the loan trio back to the Hawthorns as cover for a spell of five games in 17 days over Christmas and New Year.

Jara Reyes’ return is the most surprising but both the Baggies and Brighton, where he has been on loan, insist the recall is unrelated to his arrest at the weekend on suspicion of driving while disqualified.

The Chile international was charged after being arrested by Sussex Police on Saturday morning and is due to appear in court on January 20.

A Baggies statement today said the club would “act accordingly” after the court case but in the meantime the 26-year-old, who made four appearances for the Seagulls, remains available.

Eighteen-year-old midfielder Thorne is back with the Baggies after impressing in a four-match loan spell in the Championship with Portsmouth.

Fortune, who scored once in five Championship games for Doncaster, will provide cover for strikers Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long.

Odemwingie returned to the scoresheet with the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Blackburn.

But the Nigeria international has warned the Baggies to beware of the threat of Newcastle tomorrow, despite the Magpies’ recent dip in form following a flying start to the season.

He said: “When a team is doing so well and then all of a sudden they slip, the next thing they have to do is respond.

“They get more aggressive, more chances are created and more challenges are made. In a way it’s bad for us.

“You cannot underestimate any team in the Premier League, especially Newcastle who have shown this season they can play any team.”