West Brom V Swansea at The Hawthorns : Match Preview

01 September 2013 10:42
West Brom V Swansea - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Anelka back for Baggies

West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka is available again for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Swansea at The Hawthorns after missing the last two games while on compassionate leave.


Anelka's return is timely as head coach Steve Clarke is without Matej Vydra, who sustained a hamstring injury in the 3-0 Capital One Cup win over Newport on Tuesday.


With goalkeeper Ben Foster out for 12 weeks with a stress fracture of a bone in his right foot, Boaz Myhill should start despite a wrist injury. Midfielders Zoltan Gera, George Thorne (both knee) and Steven Reid (knock) remain sidelined.


Clarke cracked open the champagne for his 50th birthday on Thursday, but will only be celebrating if the club sign the new players he is desperate for.


With the transfer window closing on Monday, Clarke has expressed his frustration and nervousness at his lack of strength in depth.


Albion have brought in five players without spending a penny - Diego Lugano and Anelka on free transfers, with Goran Popov, Vydra and Scott Sinclair arriving on loan.


Clarke is adamant he requires at least two more forward players, but any deals are in the hands of chairman Jeremy Peace and technical director Richard Garlick.


"Richard and the chairman are trying as hard as they can to make some deals fall into place," said Clarke.


"If we could get business done before Monday then it would be much better for my state of mind and for my health.


"But it's difficult. When you look around and ask 'Where can we spend our money?', the market is condensed. There are not so many targets.


"It's going to be hard for us at this late stage to pull a rabbit out of the hat. It's going to be a tough few days for us.


"I'm concerned that we've left it too late and maybe we don't get the right players in to help the squad I've got. It's a good squad, but they do need some help.


"At the moment I can't say I'm confident of landing any player. Time is short, I'm getting a little nervous, but hopefully something will come.


"Rather than for me as a present, it would be a nice gift to the squad I have here."


Swansea manager Michael Laudrup will hope to restore Ashley Williams, Wilfried Bony and Jonjo Shelvey to his side.


The trio missed the Europa League meeting with Petrolul Ploiesti due to minor injuries, with Laudrup opting not to risk them for the trip to Romania.


Nathan Dyer and Neil Taylor will again be absent with hamstring and thigh injuries respectively, but Dwight Tiendalli could come into contention after rejoining the club on Thursday.


Laudrup has warned his Swansea side they must find their clinical edge in front of goal if they are to pick up their first victory of the Barclays Premier League season.





The Swans have suffered back-to-back domestic defeats from testing fixtures against Manchester United and Tottenham, and sit bottom of the table.





They also lost the second leg of their play-off tie 2-1 in Romania.





Although the Welsh club still progressed to the knock-out stages of the competition 6-3 on aggregate, Laudrup was unimpressed by their display.





Not for the first time, the Dane laid the blame for the loss on his side's inability to make the most of several good chances, and he knows their profligacy in front of goal must end as they look to get on the board at the Hawthorns.





Laudrup said: "In Romania we had the luxury of a 5-1 lead to fall back on.





When we play in the league we do not have that. Every game is just a one-off.





"So we have to be better in this area. You do not get eight chances away from home, whether that be in Europe or in the Premier League.





"We have to be much sharper on Sunday when we have these possibilities."








Source: PA