Barnes ready for Albion debut

Albion coaching staff believe new-boy Giles Barnes is ready to make his debut for the club at QPR.

Barnes completed his first 90 minutes for the Baggies in the reserves on Tuesday, after two years plagued by injury at former club Derby County.

First team coach Michael Appleton, who took the second-string for the game, now believes the 21-year-old is now fit enough to join the squad for Saturday's game if selected by head coach Roberto Di Matteo.

He said: "I think Giles is ready, from my point of view and what I saw on Tuesday. I was delighted he got 90 minutes and he looked strong at times and I knew he was quick, but I didn't realise he was that quick.

"I knew he was quick without the ball but I didn't realise he was that quick with the ball. For me he is around about ready for a place on the bench.

"Whether he gets that is a different question and one the manager has to decide on, but I'm sure he will be in our thoughts on Saturday in terms of being on the bench.

"He has probably surprised the playing staff, but the work he has put in behind the scenes with the physios has been second to none and the physio and sports science departments have been working hard with him.

"They deserve to take a bit of credit, because there was a lot of work he needed to do in the gym in terms of rehab and 'prehab' work but he did a lot of that before he even got onto the field.

"We are delighted he is at the stage he is now, but I don't think he would have been if he hadn't done the work previously.

"He is a talented player who has been in the Premier League with Derby and he has played in some big games in the past.

"We recognised that he needed to do a lot of work before he even tried to kick a ball or get back on the training field or somewhere close to the first team.

"The lad's attitude and workrate to do all that before he even started to kick a ball was spot on and that's why we took a gamble on him.

"Touch wood he can stay away from injury because if he can we've got a real player on our hands."

One man certain to figure on Saturday is on-loan midfielder Ben Watson, who returns to the club where he spent the first half of this season.

Former Baggies midfielder Appleton was full of praise for Watson's debut against Derby on Saturday in an unfamiliar holding midfield role.

The coach said: "I was very impressed with Ben on Saturday. He did exactly everything I would expect in that kind of role. He was clever with his retention of the ball, kept it simple when he had to, knew when to stretch play and play 50-yard passes when he needed to, and brought some control to our midfield.

"He stayed in central areas, he didn't start going wide, right or left and, because of that, we never lost our shape. Obviously we had a lull but, because we kept our concentration, compactness and discipline, we got back into the game.

"I was aware of him and obviously Eddie Newton and the gaffer were aware of him as well from playing in the Championship.

"He's gone to Wigan and it's not quite worked out in terms of appearances but from our point of view, every time you play a game you look at your own side and who is doing well, but I also try to pick the three best players from the opposition.

"I have seen Ben play numerous times live and on the TV as well."

Albion head to Loftus Road knowing victory would keep them in the Championship's top two.

With third-placed Nottingham Forest facing fourth-placed Swansea, the Baggies know at least one of their pursuers will drop points.

But Appleton reckons the focus in the Baggies camp is still on chasing down leaders Newcastle.

He said: "Theoretically there are a lot of points to play for so you could say the other clubs can get back into it. Swansea play Forest this weekend, which is a big game.

"From Swansea's point of view they'll be thinking if they can stay in touch with us it will be a great opportunity in a busy period with so many games in a short period of time.

"Forest are on the heels of us and Newcastle. I think it's a period where us, Newcastle and Forest don't want to lose too many games. We're just solely focusing on chasing Newcastle – can we hunt Newcastle down?

"The closer we get to them the better chance we'll have of gaining promotion."