Tony Pulis trusts Ben Foster to decide whether he features against Southampton
Tony Pulis will let Ben Foster decide whether he plays against Southampton after Albion’s No.1 returned to training.
Foster missed Monday’s 1-1 draw with Leicester with fluid on his knee after tweaking it in the back garden with his son.
It sparked concerns at the club because of his history with cruciate ligament problems, but fortunately, scans in the week revealed nothing serious.
After being given a week’s rest to let the fluid settle down, last season’s player of the year returned to training on Thursday.
Pulis is eager to get Foster back into the side as soon as possible, but he’s handing the decision to his keeper because he trusts him to make the right call.
“I think we’ll go with what the kid wants to do,” said Pulis. “He’s a straightforward lad and I don’t think he’ll kid you.
"If he’s fit to play he’ll want to play and if he’s not fit to play he won’t play. That’s Ben. He’s a tremendous lad. I’ve got a lot of time for Ben.”
Foster has a history of knee problems, adding trepidation to any issue in that area, but Pulis hopes the scans will give him the assurance he needs.
“Ben’s been told to get on with it so fingers crossed that will give him the confidence to get out,” he said.
“But when you’ve had three cruciate knee operations you’re always a little bit concerned. That concern has been taken away a little bit by what the specialist has said.
“He’s trained, he’s going to do a little bit more on Friday and then we’ll take a view.”
Because of Foster’s complicated knee, neither Pulis nor the medical staff are sure the problem won’t flare up again.
To make matters worse, stand-in keeper Boaz Myhill is also a doubt with a hamstring strain picked up on Monday. Like Foster, he returned to training on Thursday.
“We hope one of them will be fit to start,” said Pulis. “But we don’t know which one.”
If neither pass their late fitness test, then Pulis will have to turn to 21-year-old debutant Alex Palmer.
“Alex hasn’t played any league football,” said Pulis. “Everyone has to start somewhere but it would be very difficult for him.”
Hal Robson-Kanu, James Morrison, and Oliver Burke will all miss today's clash with Southampton but should be fit for next weekend's game with Manchester City.
