West Brom trio targeting crucial Stoke game for return from injury

It's hoped Nacer Chadli, Matt Phillips, and Craig Dawson will all return from their injuries to be in contention for Saturday's trip to the Bet365 Stadium.

Record signing Chadli has only played two league games so far this season, Phillips has missed all four of Pardew's games with a hamstring problem, and Dawson has been out since October with a knee injury he picked up during a collision with team-mate Allan Nyom.

Because they have all been sidelined for so long, Chadli and Dawson are more likely to return to the bench than the starting line-up. But Pardew is pleased to have more players in his arsenal.

“Next weekend’s game is very important and fortunately for me this week Chadli will train, Dawson will train," said Pardew. "Chris Brunt and Gareth Barry are back so that will boost my hand.

"I'm a little in the dark on a lot of players. Nader Chadli and James Morrison have not played for me but obviously I know them well.

"Some of the others have not had an appearance in the first team. I've looked at the players as best I can.

"I've worked with the players that haven't started to understand what we have.

"I think the squad has a decent balance to it but still think there is room for improvement. Maybe I will look at one or two players and see if they can perform a different role."

Albion have fallen into the relegation zone on a dismal run of 16 league games without a win, but Pardew, who has picked up two points from his first four matches, says time is on his side.

And the Baggies boss, who watched his team lose 2-1 to Manchester United on Sunday, wants his players to have more ambition in attack.

“I would be worried if we had six or seven games left but we have 20 games to get our season really up and running," he said. "We’re on catch-up with some of the teams above us.

“We have to play like we played in the second half (against United), like we played at Liverpool and like we played in the first half at Swansea and against Crystal Palace - with a bit more conviction in what we’re doing and ambition.

“You can’t win games unless you have ambition and it was only really when Gareth Barry and Brunty came on that we looked to me like we had the ambition to go and get something."

Morrison is not expected back from his Achilles problem until the New Year.