Alan Irvine expects Pocognoli to be fit for Albion's clash with Chelsea

Albion hope defender Sebastien Pocognoli will be fit to face Chelsea next week despite the Belgium international suffering a minor hamstring tear.

The Baggies believe the 27-year-old will recover in time for the trip to Stamford Bridge on November 22 after withdrawing from international duty.

Pocognoli was at the club's training ground for treatment yesterday after being forced off at half-time in Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle.

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Boss Alan Irvine said: "He's got a very slight tear in his hamstring.

"The doctor described it as the smallest of tears that would show up on a scan.

"There's a little tear there but nothing that we're concerned about and nothing that should keep him out for any length of time.

"Speaking to the medical people, they think he's got a genuine chance of being fit for the Chelsea game.

"The discussion has been had with the Belgian federation and they were happy for us to get him scanned here and send over the scan report and they're perfectly happy for him to stay here."

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The Baggies players not called up for international duty trained today with several, including Portugal winger Silvestre Varela, due to figure in a private practice game against Leicester at the Foxes' training ground.

Varela, still waiting to make his Premier League debut, is on his way back from groin surgery.

Midfielder Sebastian Blanco and forwards Brown Ideye and Georgios Samaras are also in the Baggies with young professionals Liam O'Neil and Adil Nabi also getting a run-out.

Irvine said: "Leicester will play some of their players who haven't gone away on international duty and need a game and we will do the same.

"It will be a mixture of youngster and senior players.

"Boaz Myhill and Luke Daniels will have a half each in goal.

"We will have a young back four with Wes Atkinson and Tom Smart, Kyle Howkins and George Cleet and then the six in front of them will be Silvestre, Sebastian, 'Sami', Brown, Liam and Adil."