"We pay them good money to play..." West Brom hopeful on injured pair

The pair were sidelined for Saturday's 2-1 victory over Watford after picking up injuries in the defeat at Bristol City last week.

Both performed well from the bench at Ashton Gate and have been pushing for starts for Tony Mowbray's Baggies in a bid for more regular action.

The head coach revealed scan results showed light damage to Diakite's ankle and Bany's hamstring, but Mowbray said there is a chance they could feature in the Easter double-header against Coventry on Friday and Derby on Monday - though he added that would be 'at a push'.

"There was a bit of damage on the scans that came back - but we would be hopeful they'd be ready between seven and 14 days I think," Mowbray said in the wake of his side's Hornets victory.

"I don't want to say they'll be ready for Easter weekend, but they might be if we had to push it."

Midfield battler Diakite, a summer signing last year, has started twice under Mowbray in games at Millwall and Burnley. In the latter he was used as a successful emergency central defender.

The Malian has enjoyed bright cameos and appeared in 18 league games - 12 as a substitute - this term.

Bany, the £3.3million January recruit from Randers in Denmark, has been building up his fitness having arrived in the off-season and Mowbray has spoke of the Dane's positional discipline having moved to a more demanding club and league.

He was also observing Ramadan, but is another who has caught the eye with his cameos and the head coach said he is close to a start.

Adding on the duo's status, Mowbray said: "In my lifetime there were a lot of injections to play football. You had to get them on the grass. We pay them good money to play football.

"A little ache or a little knock ... I come from a world where you've got to play. This is what your job is. Get him on the grass. If you have to massively strap him up or give an injection - as long as you're not going to damage him long-term, he has to deal with the pain and play.

"That's how I see football. So let's hope we have lots of selection issues for the next few games."