Teixeira close to Baggies return

West Brom midfielder Filipe Teixeira is poised to start on the comeback trail next week after being sidelined for more than six months with a knee problem.

The Portuguese player, 27, has not tasted first-team action since being carried off on a stretcher during the 3-0 home success over Plymouth in early March with cruciate ligament damage and undergoing surgery.

But Teixeira, signed from Academica de Coimbra for £600,000 last summer, has now resumed full training and been pencilled in to play for the reserves against West Ham on Tuesday.

Albion manager Tony Mowbray said: “Filipe is training now. We are looking for him to play in the reserves against West Ham on Tuesday now.

“He has been in full contact training for a week or so and he is raring to go.

“He thinks he is going to get 10 minutes at the weekend (against Middlesbrough) but I don’t think he will.

“In his mind he is ready. But in my mind I want to go and see him play for the reserves because that first 90 minutes of football can take your breath away.

“Even though you can train for a few weeks and feel great, sometimes the first game can catch you out. I am sure that will be the case so we will wait and see how long before he is ready.”

Mowbray added: “It is good that he is back at the training ground. He is an important character in our club. He has got a lovely personality on our training ground and his talent is there for everyone to see.

“It is good to have him back out there. His quality can raise the standards of other players at times.”