West Brom now concerned with Matt Phillips's tendons as injury spell rumbles on

The 26-year-old was initially out with a hamstring problem but Albion's medical team are now concerned he has damaged his tendon.

Phillips was named in the Scotland squad for this international break but had to pull out because his injury persisted.

It was hoped the extended period without a game would give him time to recover but he is still a major doubt for this weekend's trip to Manchester United and faces a late fitness test ahead of the game.

"Matt will be fit for the cricket season by the looks of it," said exasperated boss Tony Pulis. "We'll see, we're hoping he'll be fit.

"I'm not sure what the prognosis is, we're desperately disappointed he's not fit now. We need him to be fit.

"It's gone from a muscle injury to a slight tendon problem so they're concerned about the tendon as well as the muscle. It's been a long time."

The winger is now training on the grass but Albion's medical team are especially careful with muscle injuries on players with as much power and pace as the former Queens Park Rangers man.

And Baggies have no plans to rush Phillips back into action with James McClean in imperious form against Arsenal and James Morrison returning to action for Scotland.

They do not want a recurrence of what happened earlier this season, when Jonny Evans returned early from a calf injury and then hobbled off away at Hull with the same problem.

Pulis had initially hoped Phillips would be fit for the trip to Goodison Park over a fortnight ago, but the summer signing has now missed the last four games.

"It's disappointing really because we had a really good run when Matty, Mozza and Chadli were in the side," said first team coach Gerry Francis. "Between them those three added you 15 more goals which makes a big difference.

"But it's a squad game, and obviously the others came in the other weekend and gave us a really good result."

One of those players was Hal Robson-Kanu, who scored against Arsenal from the bench and could now be in line for a start against United.

"Hal's been a very good signing and he's worked very hard to get his chance," said Francis. "He's strong, holds it up. You have to have players that can come in and keep the team strong.

"He came on and helped change the game against Arsenal. Obviously he's going to be in Tony's thoughts.

"It's a good problem for him in terms of having two players that you can pick from."

The majority of Albion's squad returns to the training ground today, although James McClean, Nacer Chadli and Salomon Rondon will be back later in the week.

The good news for Pulis is that all the players who have come back so far have passed their fitness tests and should be available this weekend.

James Morrison missed the Arsenal game but played 81 minutes for Scotland on Sunday while Gareth McAuley soldiered on after a picking up a knock for Northern Ireland.

"Everything is alright," said Pulis. "We get them to ring the doc up if there's anything wrong.

"If they've had a little strain or whatever, they always ring the doc up. He's always kept in touch and then he gives me a run down after every game, who's who and what's what.

"Gareth's fine he's training and he'll be fine for Saturday."

United could be severely depleted themselves for this weekend's clash against Albion with seven players potentially unavailable.

Top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfielder Ander Herrera are banned, while injuries may keep out Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

Smalling and Jones were withdrawn from the England squad, Fellaini is missing Belgium's game tonight with a toe problem, and Pogba picked up a hamstring injury against Rostov before the international break.

Jose Mourinho is also sweating on the fitness of Wayne Rooney, who has been out for the past three weeks with a knee injury, but could be rushed back to play in midfield.

Albion's head coach went to St George's Park yesterday to watch 18-year-old Sam Field play 90 minutes for England U19s yesterday in a 5-1 victory over Belarus. The Young Lions have qualified for this summer's European U19 Finals in Georgia.