West Brom V Norwich at The Hawthorns : Match Preview

Hodgson keen on Huszti West Brom head coach Roy Hodgson is hopeful of concluding a deal to sign Zenit St Petersburg winger Szabolcs Huszti for the remainder of the season. Hodgson has been preparing his side for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Norwich at The Hawthorns amid ongoing talks with the Russian club about taking the Hungary international on loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer. Hodgson is keen to strengthen his wide options in midfield, with Zoltan Gera and skipper Chris Brunt both long-term injury casualties. Hodgson said: "Huszti is a player who has had a very good career with Metz, Hannover and now St Petersburg, who have been the top side in Russia for two or three years. "He is a player who comes with a very good CV, a type of player we don't really have at the club, not least with Gera and Brunt injured long term. "We hope we can finalise the deal with the club and the player himself and he will be a good addition to our squad for the final 16 league games if it all gets tied up." Hodgson has also not given up hope of signing Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell, even though Albion's initial bid was rejected by their midlands rivals. He said: "I know that Birmingham are still in dialogue with Dan Ashworth [West Brom's sporting and technical director]. Whether that means there will be another offer from our side I couldn't say. "I was under the impression that the offer we made was pretty much a final one, but who knows? It would be nice for a deal to be done and, if it can't, then that is okay too." Hodgson has written off any hopes of signing defender Chris Baird from his former club Fulham, however. He said: "We have been told he is not available. His name was mentioned and I said yes, if he was going to be released we would be interested. "Then I have been informed that Fulham will not be releasing him." Midfielder Paul Scharner has been troubled by an Achilles problem in recent weeks and will miss the clash with the Canaries on Saturday but central defender Jonas Olsson is available to face Paul Lambert's side. Olsson returned to the side in last week's win at Stoke after recovering from a calf injury and was allowed to return to his native Sweden to attend a funeral this week. Paul Lambert could welcome striker James Vaughan back to his first team as he attempts to carry the Norwich fairytale into the FA Cup. The Norwich boss will take the opportunity of Saturday's fourth-round encounter to rest some of the squad who have worked such wonders in the Premier League this season. It means Vaughan could play some part after making a goalscoring return for the reserves in midweek after being sidelined for four months with a knee injury. Defender Elliott Ward, another long-term injury victim, also returns to the squad, giving Lambert another boost as he seeks to capitalise on an impressive first half of the season. Lambert said: "We'll mix it up a little bit. Some lads might need a break, they've been going week in and week out for us. I still think we have a side to go and win. I don't have any problem with changing the side. I have a group of lads who can adapt to it. "I don't view any team I put out as being weaker. I've got great trust in the lads I play. We want to get through. We don't want a replay. We want to get the game finished on Saturday whether we win or lose." The possible return of former Everton star Vaughan, in particular, gives Lambert another attacking weapon to support Grant Holt and fellow striker Steve Morison. "A fully-fit James Vaughan will be a handful for anybody," Lambert said. "He has a good pedigree. He's an aggressive lad and probably his over-enthusiasm has caused him injuries. Get him fit and he'll be a big asset to us. "In Wardy's case he was a huge part in getting the club where it is today. Hopefully the two of them are now ready to push." He continued: "I couldn't throw them in (from the start). Not at the minute. They played part of the (reserve) game the other night but it would be unfair to throw them in to the intensity of the Premier League." Lambert, however, hinted that Vaughan and Ward could make the trip to the Hawthorns where on-loan defender Kyle Naughton is unavailable at the request of parent club Tottenham.

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

Source: PA

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