Lewis Cox's predicted West Brom line-up v Norwich as youth and rotation expected amid injury issues for FA Cup tie
Attention switches back to the FA Cup this weekend as Albion tackle Championship rivals Norwich for a third time this season.
It is the second time in just seven games at the helm boss Eric Ramsay will tackle the Canaries after Norwich ran riot to win 5-0 in a Hawthorns humiliation last month.
Albion have showed signs of stability since, notably with goalless draws in the last two games to steady the ship, but Ramsay still needs a first win in the hotseat to really settle as Baggies boss.
The FA Cup fourth round tie in Norfolk could be a welcome distraction from the clear priority of securing the club's Championship status.
Not since 2020 have the Baggies reached the fifth round of the competition but to do so they must down a Norwich side that have won six of their last seven in all competitions.
Both sides are expected to shuffle their squad options. The visitors have to place emphasis on keeping key bodies fresh for the Championship battles ahead, including a crucial three-game run from Saturday week where relegation rivals Charlton and Oxford are opposition.
Albion's defensive headaches continue and a lack of central defenders means it is likely to be a full-back pair of Alfie Gilchrist and Charlie Taylor in the heart of defence. Other options are a youth player, such as Noah DuPont or Mo Diomande, or midfielder Ousmane Diakite.
Ramsay has been clear since his appointment that several members of his squad have played through injuries during the winter months as the club desperately hunted form. They include Alex Mowatt, Jayson Molumby, Jed Wallace and Mikey Johnston among others.
In my side below I have opted to start Molumby due to a general lack of viable midfield rotation options. Mowatt, who turned 31 on Friday, had a longer absence and is more important to wrap up. Johnston has appeared to be struggling of late with a pubis injury and has been a substitute in the last two league games.
Wallace will not feature, as confirmed by Ramsay in his press conference on Friday afternoon, as the skipper is rested to maintain his fitness for the challenges ahead.
