Mowbray brings back Watson
Albion boss Tony Mowbray has boosted his options for the final furlong of the Great Race by recalling Steve Watson from play-off rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
The 33-year-old, who was due to stay at Hillsborough for the rest of the season, will be eligible for tomorrow's trip to Coventry.
The Owls lost only once in the 11 games Watson played for them since moving north in February to surge to within two points of the play-offs going into tomorrow's programme.
Mowbray, who has Curtis Davies (broken foot), Neil Clement and Darren Carter (both suspended) unavailable for their Albion's final two games, made the decision to recall Watson despite Paul McShane winning his appeal against his sending off at Burnley.
Wednesday boss Brian Laws was disappointed by Albion's decision, but insisted the Owls will cope.
"We are obviously very disappointed that they have pulled him back to just go back into the squad and not into their team but I think they see us as a rival for a play-off spot now," said Laws. "It doesn't look good on our promotion drive but we can't expect any help from anybody, no-one is going to do us any favours and if we are going to get into the play-offs we are going to have to do it the hard way. But hopefully that will cement us and make us stronger as a team.
"Tony Mowbray rang us late in the week and that hasn't helped in preparing for Saturday's game but we have still got options.
"The fact that we beat West Brom without Steve Watson shows that we are not going to be distracted, no matter what."
Watson has been joined back at The Hawthorns by striker Stuart Nicholson, who has returned from his loan spell at Bristol Rovers after discovering he needs a hernia operation.
The 20-year-old, who scored seven goals in 13 starts and 13 substitute appearances, is expected to be sidelined for around four weeks.
"It's disappointing to be losing Stuart so close to the end of the season, because since coming here's he's made a good contribution to the team and he has had a positive impact around the place," said Rovers first team coach Paul Trollope.
