West Brom V Liverpool at The Hawthorns : Match Preview

28 October 2011 16:31
Hodgson content with Long call-up.

West Brom will be without striker Shane Long when they host Liverpool on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland international will be sidelined for six weeks with the knee injury suffered during last weekend's clash with Aston Villa, but the former Reading man has been named in the Republic of Ireland`s Euro 2012 play-off squad to face Estonia in a fortnight.

Baggies manager Roy Hodgson diffused a potential club versus country row by insisting his inclusion in the Irish national squad is "the correct decision". Hodgson has no problem with the call-up, although he believes it may be "optimistic". He said: "The prognosis from the doctors and medical experts is that Shane will be out for six weeks. "But I quite understand why an important player like Shane is included in the squad because there is nothing to stop Giovanni Trapattoni (Republic of Ireland manager) being optimistic.

"There have been lots of cases in the past where people have been diagnosed with an injury which will take longer than it actually takes. "So no-one would be happier than ourselves if Shane Long recovers in two weeks and can play for Ireland in these important qualifiers. "For me, his selection is fine. I just hope they won't be too disappointed if the doctors prognosis turns out to be the correct one. It might turn out to be optimistic." Somen Tchoyi and Simon Cox will be vying to partner Peter Odemwingie up front.

Midfielders Paul Scharner and Graham Dorrans (both knee) and winger Jerome Thomas (foot) are expected to be fit. Luis Suarez is an injury doubt for Liverpool, who will be facing former manager Hodgson, after coming off late on in the victory over Stoke in midweek with an ankle problem. Reds manager Kenny Dalglish made eight changes for the tie at the Britannia Stadium and the likes of Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson are set to return to the first XI.

 The England pair have both recently recovered from injuries but Dalglish confirmed he left them out in midweek by choice. "He (Suarez) has had a bit of treatment," Dalglish said. "He has had a tough time recently, so we'll see how he is for tomorrow. "It was just part of the course of sensibility with Steven and Glen on Wednesday. "There was nothing wrong with them - they could both have played if they had to. It was our choice."

Meanwhile, Dalglish has branded Suarez a "great ambassador" for the club in the midst of accusations of diving by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and racism by their defender Patrice Evra following the Red Devils' 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Anfield on October 15.

 "He has been fantastic and the great thing about him is that he is very unassuming as well," Dalglish said. "Everybody can see what he can do on the pitch, but he has got no edge to him. He doesn't think he is better than anyone else.

"He is a great ambassador for the football club. For us, as well as his football, the other things he brings to the club are very important as well. "He is just a fantastic person as well as a fantastic footballer. "As I have said before, he has only been here since January and already we are running out of compliments to pay him, which I suppose is a huge compliment in itself."

West Brom V Liverpool - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.

Source: DSG