Express & Star

'I'm feeling fans pain' - West Brom's Jonas Olsson set for comeback

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Albion finally got some good news today as Jonas Olsson sounded a rallying cry as he prepared to return to the relegation battle front-line.

Olsson has been in the stands serving a two-match ban as Albion have slipped into deeper discomfort with one point from two key games against Hull and Cardiff.

The disturbing stories from the weekend surrounding Saido Berahino have added to the frown lines around The Hawthorns and the sight of the reliable Olsson returning against Norwich City will be a major lift.

"It's never nice being sat on the side; it's more nervous and frustrating than anything," said Olsson.

"I was disappointed on Saturday; I felt down even though I didn't play.

"I was in pain as well after the late equaliser – and the dressing room was as well.

"We care as much as the fans.

"It's hard but, then again, looking at it another way it was another point, and Fulham and Sunderland didn't get any points at the weekend, so we still got one more point than them.

"It's still very much in our own hands, of course."

The Sweden international's last game was the 2-1 win at Swansea, when he played as one of three centre-halves alongside Gareth McAuley and Craig Dawson.

And his return from suspension means Mel's options in terms of personnel and formation at the back are improved.

"It's not for me to pick the side," he insisted.

"But the three centre-halves at Swansea worked for that game."

The Baggies will be backed by a sell-out 2,500 following at Norwich and Olsson admits that is a huge boost on the back of a white-hot atmosphere at The Hawthorns last time out.

"Since I've been at the club the away support has always been brilliant," he added. "That counts for a lot.

"The atmosphere in the first 20 minutes on Saturday was as good as I've felt at The Hawthorns."