West Brom hopeful of Kyle Bartley boost for Hull City

Dominant stopper Bartley, 33, struggles to make it through three-game weeks as the club manage his knee.

The issue is a long-standing one but Bartley was forced to have a minor operation on the issue at the beginning of 2025 and missed a month of action.

Having played in the home win over QPR on Saturday, Bartley's knee had swollen and he was not risked in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Turf Moor. Boss Tony Mowbray said the defender could have been risked if it was the final match of the season, but the head coach remains optimistic for the weekend's clash against the Tigers.

"We had a suspension at right back (Darnell Furlong), we have an injury to Kyle Bartley who has been unbelievable for us," Mowbray said.

"He has a swollen knee and we hope with rest he will be ready for the weekend.

"If it was the last game of the season he would have played but it wasn't the last game.

"I didn't want to force him to play three days after the last game, and the miss two or three games through a bad knee. We can give him treatment and a rest and hopefully he is back on the pitch on Saturday."

Albion shuffled to a back three in Furlong and Bartley's absence and fielded a makeshift line-up in Lancashire, including midfielders Ousmane Diakite and Isaac Price at centre-back and wing-back respectively. The Baggies also carried an unfamiliar bench.

Winger Tom Fellows did not travel to Lancashire due to a family bereavement.

Midfield battler Jayson Molumby remained an unused substitute while sitting on nine yellow cards with a potential two-match suspension looming. The cut-off point for which was after the Burnley game.

"Jayson Molumby has nine bookings and we didn't want to take a chance," Mowbray explained. "In my opinion we have a better chance of three points on Saturday against Hull than we did here tonight.

"It made sense as it did at Leeds to play our technical midfield players rather than our running players. The technical players could keep the ball away from the opposition.

"I think it was the right thing to do to leave Jayson on the bench tonight and not be tempted to put him on in case he got booked.

"The longer the game went on the ref had his yellow card attached to his hand and everyone was getting booked."

Mowbray told the Express & Star that January attacking recruit Tammer Bany tweaked his groin in training. The Dane, who is of Palestinian heritage, is also currently fasting while observing Ramadan.

"Bany is injured, he has a slight tweak in his groin and he did not travel with us," said the head coach. "He got it in training, he is a young boy trying to get up to speed in the Championship from the Danish league.

"Training is pushing him and he is observing Ramadan and is fasting, and he has tweaked something, we have to respect that."