And none more so than injury concerns it would seem.  With a whole host of players picking up niggling injuries over the last few weeks, Tony Mowbray might find himself enduring somewhat of a selection headache over the forthcoming games.

Ishmael Miller’s later withdrawal from yesterdays England Under 21 clash at Molineux versus Poland will have brought its own concerns to Baggies fans, especially at a time when Luke Moore is serving a three match ban for his sending off ten days ago.

Miller picked up a groin strain in Albion’s match against Charlton Athletic on Good Friday, an injury which prevented him from training on Monday.  With a heavy fixture pile up on the horizon for Albion, Miller’s decision to withdraw from his international duty might provide some comfort as he faces the race to be fit for this weekend’s fixture against the divisions strugglers Colchester at the Hawthorns.

It did however come as a blow to Miller, who has received several international call ups at U21 level but is yet to feature.  Team mate Luke Moore did start for the U21s, but was substituted early in the second half.

One player who is definitely ruled out of this weekend’s football is defender Leon Barnett.  Barnett has not featured for the Baggies since their 4-1 defeat to Leicester City after pulling his hamstring, and Mowbray says it is almost impossible to say when he will be fit to play again.

Mowbray is hoping Barnett can win his struggle against injury in time to feature for the Baggies at Wembley against Pompey in the FA Cup semi final.  One player who is a certainty to miss that fixture, and indeed the rest of the season is midfielder Filipe Teixeira.  But the club have confirmed that an operation last week to repair the players cruciate ligament in his left knee was a success.

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