Tony Pulis' faced with lengthy West Brom injury list ahead of FA Cup replay
West Brom manager Tony Pulis will be forced to lift his weary troops for their third-round FA Cup replay at Bristol City without key midfielder James Morrison and possibly skipper Darren Fletcher.
Pulis learned the full extent of Morrison's injury over the weekend - a ruptured hamstring will rule him out for up to eight weeks - while fellow midfielder Fletcher is in a race to be fit after taking a bang on his knee in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Southampton.
Fletcher is major doubt and could also miss Saturday's Barclays Premier League derby against Aston Villa, leaving Pulis to consider a foray into the loan market despite being mindful of his chairman Jeremy Peace's reluctance to do business in January.
"We'll see what happens, there's still two weeks of the window to go," Pulis told the Express & Star. "Fletcher's going to have a scan and then we'll look at it.
"We're hoping it's something we can sort out, but until it's scanned we just don't know how bad it is.
"We're disappointed with Morrison. That's a big blow for us because James has been a good player for us in that pocket.
"That's two very important midfield players for us and two players who've been very good this year.
"We don't need that. We haven't got a big enough squad to cope with those sort of injuries."
The Baggies rescued a replay at Ashton Gate courtesy of Morrison's stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns.
Since then Bristol City have sacked Steve Cotterill while first-team coach John Pemberton has been appointed as caretaker manager.
Pemberton would give his chances of landing the role on a permanent basis a major boost if he can orchestrate an FA Cup upset.
The 51-year-old guided the Robins to a surprise win against Sky Bet Championship leaders Middlesbrough at the weekend.
Victory was not enough to lift City out of the bottom three - fourth-bottom Rotherham have a better goal difference - but Pemberton has every incentive to build on that momentum against West Brom.
"This is a good club and, given its infrastructure, it is only going to go one way," Pemberton told the Bristol Post. "To be a part of that would be fantastic.
"Would I like to stay at Bristol City? Absolutely. But in what capacity I don't know.
"I want the best thing for the club and if that best thing is having me around in some capacity, then great. If not, then I'll shake everybody's hands and say 'fair enough'. I don't have a problem ether way."
Teenage goalkeeper Max O'Leary is poised to make his full debut after stepping off the bench in the original tie to replace Frank Fielding, who has not recovered from a rib injury.
Richard O'Donnell, drafted in on loan from Wigan, is not eligible but Derrick Williams, forced off against Middlesbrough due to cramp, and fellow defender Nathan Baker, who sustained a nasty black eye, are both expected to be in contention.
Source: PAR
