Lewis Cox's predicted West Brom line-up v Preston: Return for fit-again attacker?

Victories in the final four games of the Championship campaign are perhaps needed now more so than ever - so how does James Morrison go about selecting his side for the trip to Preston’s Deepdale?

Last time out against Millwall - that feels like a long time ago - saw a couple of surprising calls as Alex Mowatt returned to midfield from a lengthy absence in a move that shuffled Jayson Molumby out to the right.

I’m not so sure that is a selection I’d like to see repeated at Preston, particularly as Molumby and Ousmane Diakite were flying together in midfield. But it was a case of needs-must for Morrison given a lack of options out wide.

The boss will be helped there by the return to availability of Karlan Grant after three months on the sidelines.

Could Grant be ready to start? That may be optimistic but it would be a huge help if so given the lack of experienced options out wide.

Morrison was coy on the prospect and said the club must consider Grant’s long-term fitness but I have a feeling we could see him.

Defender Chris Mepham is fit and available again, too, although chance in defence is less desired at the moment.

There was also a pleasant surprise in the return to contention of Tammer Bany, who was sidelined with groin surgery before the new year.

The other contentious selection may be the frontline as Daryl Dike partnered Aune Heggebo last time.

Dike was bright and sharp and I wouldn’t be averse to seeing him line up again, but I have a feeling Morrison may lean towards a return to the starting XI for Josh Maja.

See Albion correspondent Lewis Cox’s predicted line-up below.

4-4-2:

Max O’Leary

Danny Imray

Nat Phillips

George Campbell

Callum Styles

Isaac Price

Jayson Molumby

Ousmane Diakite

Karlan Grant

Aune Heggebo

Josh Maja

Substitutes: Griffiths (gk), Gilchrist, Mepham, Taylor, Mowatt, Whitwell, Jimoh-Aloba, Bostock, Dike.