The six players set to miss Oxford United vs West Brom in early team news round up

West Brom are gearing up for their EFL Championship match with Oxford United as October's international break draws to a close.

England suffered defeat to Greece, but won in Finland, in the latest round of Nations League matches. Scotland lost to Croatia, and host Portugal on Tuesday, whilst Wales host Montenegro on Monday (October 14) night. Northern Ireland played to a goalless draw with Belarus, and welcome Bulgaria to Windsor Park on Tuesday.

Baggies supporters hope that with almost a fortnight since their last game, that the players and staff have used this time to take a break to take stock of their situation, and get back in the saddle. Before the international break, WBA suffered defeats to Middlesbrough, and Sheffield Wednesday, whilst drawing with Millwall.

It saw them drop down from first to fourth, but there’s not been too much damage done as there’s only two points separating them, and Sunderland. The break has allowed any players nursing any knocks or niggles to rest up, and not worry about a game. Ahead of Saturday’s lunch time kick-off, we take a look at the injury situation from both camps.

West Brom early injury news

Daryl Dike is getting ever closer to a return to action after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He suffered a successive Achilles injury in February, but is making progress, and could soon come in to the manager’s thinking.

The plan is for him to play for the under-21s in the next few weeks, and if he can come through unscathed then he could make an appearance. A trip to the Kassam Stadium comes too soon for the USA forward however.

Offering an update on the situation, Corberan said to the Express & Star, “He is now training with a team, but with the under 21s, so his first step to come back…we have been specific.

“Individual physical work, and then technical and tactical, but when we moved to the collective training drills, the first step the medical staff wanted to do was with the under-21s.

“Then, he has done analytical drills with us, but not game situations. They will come in the international break.”

Oxford United early injury news

Joe Bennett is one player that for certain will miss the match. He suffered an injury shortly after the summer transfer window shut, and will be out for several months. He hasn't been registered in their 25-man squad, and so he will next be available to play for the club in January. Bennett was Oxford's starting left-back for the thirst four games of the season.

Peter Kioso will be coming back from international duty after earning his first call-up with the DR Congo. Kioso was an unused substitute in their 1-0 win over Tanzania on Thursday.

Long-serving Baggies winger Matt Phillips is a doubt for the match against his former club. He's been missing for the last five Championship games since joining them on a free transfer in the summer.

Centre-back Elliot Moore wasn't in the squad for the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth before the international break. He was withdrawn against Luton Town as a precaution for a reported knee injury.

Cameron Brannagan is sidelined with a knee injury, meanwhile former Swansea City man Przemyslaw Placheta hasn't played since August.