Mixed injury news for Hodgson

West Brom head coach Roy Hodgson has mixed fitness news ahead of the Premier League clash with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow.

Central defender Jonas Olsson is expected to be fit after injuring his calf in training on New Year’s Eve and hoping to help Albion end a run of three successive league defeats in his absence.

But midfielder Paul Scharner is struggling to overcome the Achilles problem which flared up during last weekend’s home clash with Norwich.

Graham Dorrans and George Thorne are vying to replace the Austria international.

Skipper Chris Brunt (fractured ankle), fellow midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) and defender Steven Reid (ankle and knee) remain long term absentees.

Provisional squad: Foster, Fulop, Jara-Reyes, Olsson, McAuley, Dawson, Tamas, Mattock, Shorey, Mulumbu, Morrison, Thorne, Dorrans, Thomas, Tchoyi, Cox, Fortune, Odemwingie, Long, Bednar, Scharner.