Former West Brom boss Alan Pardew set to speak at Jay Rodriguez's race hearing on Wednesday

Rodriguez is due in front of an Independent Regulatory Commission this week after being charged by the Football Association following an incident with Brighton defender Gaetan Bong in January.

Albion have thrown their full support behind their striker, and former head coach Pardew is due to give evidence and a positive character reference at the hearing.

Rodriguez is facing a potential five-match ban after being charged by the FA for alleged racial abuse.

Bong has reportedly accused the Albion striker of saying ‘You’re black and you stink’ during an altercation in January’s 2-0 win over the Seagulls at The Hawthorns.

Rodriguez vehemently denies any wrongdoing and claims he was merely making a joke about bad breath. The former Southampton man has employed a lip-reading expert to help fight his case, as well as a leading QC.

Rodriguez met with his legal team on Monday ahead of this week’s hearing.

"Absolutely gutted and in disbelief at the situation I find myself in,” he tweeted last month. “I 100 per cent deny the false allegation and will take the correct legal advice to prove my innocence."

Rodriguez was intially ordered to respond to the FA charge by February 16, but was handed a three-week extension until March 9.

The Albion striker hasn’t let the impending hearing dent his confidence on the pitch.

Not only did he score Albion’s only goal in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Swansea to reach double figures for the season, but he was also man of the match.

“He’s a great lad,” said goalkeeper Ben Foster, after that game. “He works so hard in training and he’s been on fire in training as well with some of his goals. He really has been looking sharp.

"Jay is golden for any team because you know he will give everything he’s got in every single minute of every single game.

“He’s a really nice bloke as well and the sort of guy you want on your team.”