Miserable Start to 2012 for West Brom

Can we have 2011 back please? writes West Brom blogger Jarrod Hill.

So far 2012 has brought us two 1-0 losses and an injury list as long as Peter Crouch's arm. Everton at home was a bad day at the office, but it has been compounded by the news that Chris Brunt is now out for the foreseeable future with a broken ankle.

I hope our rehabilitation gym is on the large side as we now have six first team players out injured.

Injury crisis doesn't quite cover it as Chris Brunt, Zoltan Gera, Youssouf Mulumbu, Jonas Olsson, Steven Reid, Shane Long are all on the side lines while James Morrison, Graham Dorrans, Paul Scharner and Peter Odemwingie all struggle to find full fitness.

On the bright side we do have a little respite this weekend with a cup game against Cardiff. It couldn't have come at a better time as it will give our walking wounded a weekend off to recover. Personally I am a big fan of the FA Cup but I am sure that due to our current problems Roy Hodgson will be treating this game as an opportunity to play a mixture of fringe players, reserve and youth team.

I would be tempted to wrap the rest of our first-team players in cotton wool as any further injuries could be disastrous. After reaching 22 points with a draw against Manchester City I never thought I would be contemplating us being dragged back into a relegation fight.

But with key players all out with injuries I must admit my pessimistic side is re-emerging from the cupboard I have had it locked in all season. I believe that the next six league games will shape our season, three home games that include Norwich, Swansea, and Sunderland and journeys to Stoke, Fulham and Wolves. I appreciate that the Premier League doesn't have an easy game in it, but with no one in the top six to play for the next six games, it represents our best run of fixtures all season. I just hope we can get some of our walking wounded back sooner rather than later and go at all our games full tilt.

I will be at The Hawthorns tomorrow, and I will be hoping we win, I will be disappointed if we lose, but worse than that would be any further injuries.

As the injury crisis bites hard Roy Hodgson must be knocking on Jeremy Peace's door and begging for him to invest in the squad this month. Rumours are abound but nothing has materialised so far and we are not renowned for being busy in January.

But the current situation must be giving weight to Roy`s calls for funds to be made available. Only three weeks ago I was suggesting that all we needed was maybe a couple of additions if the right deals came available. But with key players out for long periods of time almost overnight our need for reinforcements has changed.

The loan market would make the most sense, it would give us an instant lift and give us cover until players recover. But if the right players are not available on loan our chairman may have to dip into the clubs coffers to ensure our bright first half of the season isn't wasted.

Whatever happens, Roy's got a job on his hands, but if he thinks he has it tough, try talking to the physio!