Express & Star

West Brom boss Darren Moore runs the rule over Jack Fitzwater in Dubai

Jack Fitzwater has flown to Dubai with the rest of the Albion squad so Darren Moore can run the rule over the young defender.

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Jack Fitzwater.

Fitzwater was recalled from his season-long loan at Walsall earlier this month to be named in Albion’s FA Cup third-round squad, although he remained an unused substitute.

The Baggies initially told the Saddlers he would return straight after the game for the rest of the season, but after going through to the next round, Albion changed their mind.

Moore is now taking a closer look at the 21-year-old at his warm weather training camp in Nad Al Sheba, Dubai.

Fitzwater may be kept at Albion for the rest of the season or sent back out on loan, although it looks unlikely to be Walsall.

Albion currently want Fitzwater available for their FA Cup fourth-round match with Brighton, so a decision won’t be made until after that match.

If he plays for the Baggies, he will not be able to play for a third club this season.

In the summer, Moore offered Fitzwater the chance to stay and fight for a place at Albion or go out on loan and the youngster chose to return to the Banks’s Stadium to get more minutes.

He has been a regular in the Walsall side this season, making 25 appearances in total.

Albion currently have plenty of options at centre-back, with Ahmed Hegazi, Craig Dawson, Kyle Bartley and Tosin Adarabioyo all ahead of Fitzwater in the pecking order.

Everton loanee Mason Holgate can also play in the middle, although Moore predominantly wants to use him at right-back.

Albion’s head coach has taken several other youngsters to the Middle East.

Nathan Ferguson, an England under-18 centre-back, has travelled with the squad, as has 22-year-old Kyle Howkins, another centre-half.

Goalkeeper Alex Palmer, as well as midfielders Sam Field, Rekeem Harper, Jonathan Leko and Kyle Edwards, have also flown to Dubai.

Matt Phillips has stayed behind in England in order to receive treatment on an ankle injury that ruled him out of the 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Saturday.

But James Morrison, who missed that game with a calf strain, has travelled.