Ellington to start

Nathan Ellington is in line for a possible start for West Brom when they travel to Tottenham on Monday in their bid for Barclays Premiership survival.

The striker became the club’s top scorer when he claimed his eighth goal of the season in the 1-1 draw against local rivals Birmingham just under a fortnight ago as he ended his four-month scoring drought.

The 24-year-old then registered in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United to make it two goals in as many games.

Albion’s £3m (€4.4m) record signing scored both those goals after coming off the bench but assistant coach Nigel Pearson believes he now has a case for a position in the starting line-up for the first time since the home defeat by Sunderland at the end of January.

Pearson told the club’s official website, www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk: “Nathan has really pushed his cause.

“He has done enough now to warrant serious consideration for a starting position, although I’m not saying he is definitely going to get one.

“Nathan thrives on goals and now he has got a couple his confidence is high.

“That’s good for us. We’ve already spoken about possibilities for the starting line-up at Spurs.

“When Nathan hits a vein of goalscoring form he is a player who is a big asset to us.

“I’m sure he’ll have a big part to play between now and the end of the season.”