Hero Simon Cox may face West Brom axe

West Bromwich Albion assistant boss Keith Downing today admitted Simon Cox might not start against Norwich on Saturday despite his FA Cup hat-trick heroics.

Downing paid tribute to Cox after he staked his claim for a Premier League chance with a match-winning treble in the 4-2 third-round win against Cardiff.

But Roy Hodgson's right-hand man believes competition for places is so fierce that even Cox's first Baggies hat-trick might not guarantee him a place when the Canaries visit The Hawthorns.

"I think any manager will say competition for places is healthy," said Downing.

"Certainly it makes Shane Long, Peter Odemwingie, Somen Tchoyi and Marco Fortune, who also went on and was impressive, think.

"It's healthy when they're in form and pushing each other. I wouldn't say Simon's definitely going to go in on Saturday, but the guy has gone in and put a very good marker down.

"He can't do much more than get three goals and play very well. All the time he's not been in the team he's been a fantastic professional and trained exceptionally well every day.

"I'm pleased for him that he has got an opportunity and he has taken it."

Albion hope to have Shane Long available again after a back injury, giving Hodgson the chance to reunite him with Peter Odemwingie in the Baggies attack. And that could again leave Cox on the sidelines.