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Tony Pulis sweating on fitness of strike duo

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Albion boss Tony Pulis today backed Tim Sherwood to be a success at Villa as he sweated on the fitness of his strike duo ahead of tomorrow's first huge derby.

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The Baggies go to Villa Park in the Premier League before returning for an FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday against a Villa side beaten in Sherwood's first two games.

And Pulis, who was today awaiting an update on the fitness of key strikers Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye, has given his backing to the new Villa manager. "It's a massive game for the area, never mind the position that both clubs are in," said Pulis.

"I've got a lot of time for Tim. I think he's a good coach and I think he's a good manager and I'm sure he will be a success. He just needs the time there to turn it around. I think Villa have appointed a really top man."

Pulis's side moved to 30 points with 11 games left as Berahino's early rocket fired them to a 1-0 home win against Southampton on Saturday.

But both the 17-goal hitman and strike partner Ideye limped off in the second half with foot injuries, with Pulis revealing both had played with the aid of pain-killing injections.

Both are due to be assessed ahead of tomorrow's game with Victor Anichebe, the club's only other senior striker, still absent from Saturday's squad as he recovers from a groin injury.

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