Irvine not afraid to swing axe
West Brom head coach Alan Irvine insists he is ready to make the big decisions after axing Swedish defender Jonas Olsson from his starting line-up.
The Baggies chief warned he is prepared to drop any under-performing players ahead of Wednesday's Capital One Cup clash with Hull.
Olsson's errors had cost goals against Swansea and Everton, and he was replaced by Joleon Lescott in Sunday's 1-0 Barclays Premier League win at Tottenham.
Irvine has a fully-fit squad available after previously struggling with injuries and can now shape his team.
"It wasn't easy telling Jonas what I intended to do," he told the club's official site.
"I have huge respect for him. He is a top professional and a very, very good player, but he has made a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes which have proved costly in the last couple of games.
"I have a full range of choices for the first time and I had to look a couple of people in the eye and tell them they were not playing. It is never pleasant but it is part of the job.
"And you can be absolutely certain that Jonas will remain a very important member of the squad."
Olsson could be recalled for the visit of the Tigers, with Irvine considering changes.
Silvestre Varela could also be involved after he scored in the Baggies' Under-21 win over Brighton on Monday.
The Porto loanee is yet to make his debut as he has not been match fit, while fellow new boys Georgios Samaras and Sebastian Blanco are also on stand-by.
Lescott, who signed in June after leaving Manchester City, is likely to be rested after almost two months recovering from a knee injury before making his debut on Sunday.
Hull defender Liam Rosenior has vowed to make the most of his chance when manager Steve Bruce makes sweeping changes for the tie.
Rosenior is likely to return to the starting XI having been edged out of the team in recent weeks, with Bruce set to make full use of what is arguably the deepest squad in the club's history.
Hull's summer recruitment drive, which reached double figures on a breathless transfer deadline day, pushed former regulars towards the periphery and the third-round clash at the Hawthorns is a chance for them to restate their case.
The likes of David Meyler, Paul McShane, Alex Bruce, Yannick Sagbo, Robbie Brady and Sone Aluko all fit that bill, with Tom Ince also set for a start, and Rosenior believes a good show could bring big rewards.
"What helps us this year is the size of the squad and the quality in it. The manager can make 11 changes and still have a team more than capable of going to West Brom and getting a result," said Rosenior.
"I'm frustrated at the moment but I want the team to do well too. I know my chance will come and it's up to me to make sure my levels are right and I take the chance to stay in the team.
"I know I'm playing for a manager who is fair, and if I play well I'll stay in the team. That's the motivator for everyone at the moment."
City boss Bruce has made no attempt to hide his selection policy ahead of the match, though a quick look at Hull's team sheets from the early rounds of last season's cup competitions would have given a strong hint anyway.
Squad rotation did him no harm on the way to the club's first-ever FA Cup final and has emboldened him to ring the changes again.
One notable inclusion will be playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa, on loan from Newcastle and set for a first start of the campaign.
Source: PA
