West Brom v Bristol City injury news as 9 out and 3 doubts

West Brom and Bristol City meet at the Hawthorns in the EFL Championship on Sunday, December 22.

The Baggies' fixture list has been slightly different to most teams. They've not played a league game on a Saturday since the 1-1 draw with Preston North End.

West Brom suffered a 2-1 defeat to Watford last time out and that saw the Hornets leapfrog them in the table. Ahead of the match, Bristol City are four points behind West Brom. With the game being on Sunday, it at least allows for any players with niggling injuries to have that one more day of recovery. Here’s the latest injury and team news prior to the match.

West Brom team news

Callum Styles is a confirmed absentee for the weekend and he's also a doubt for the festive period. Styles felt something during the first-half against Watford, and the issue has prevented him from training with his teammates this week.

"One player that is not going to be available is Styles,” Corberan the Express & Star. “He was feeling something in the previous game during the first half. We changed because I wanted to change but at the same time he couldn't keep playing. So the change was a tactical question with a physical damage too.

"He has not been involved with the group. Normally he will need one more week of time to again be available with the team. That is the challenge of the Championship. Some moments you are not playing, some you are playing too much and consistency now in this moment of the competition is key.”

Grady Diangana has been dealing with a niggling calf problem. Diangana hasn't played for the last six Championship games, but there was a slight hope he would return to the match day squad against Coventry City, though he didn't play in that game, or the following match against Watford.

"Grady has been training this week,” said Corberan in his latest update.

“It has been two physical days and two football days. His reaction has been positive. If he keeps like this hopefully - I touch wood - he can be ready and available for Sunday.

Paddy McNair's loan is confirmed to end on December 31 and so there are three games remaining on his deal. He's been out for the last few months with a hamstring injury, but could make a push to be involved against the Robins.

“Paddy has been training with the group, making a good part of training,” said Carlos Corberan in his pre-match press conference.

“Of course when you are injured long-term, the fact you made training doesn't mean you are ready to compete, but him training with the group is a positive thing.

Semi Ajayi broke his muscle in two parts and as a result he had to require surgery. The good news is that it will help reduce the risk of suffering the same kind of injury again however he's not expected to play until the latter stages of the campaign.

Striker Daryl Dike has a difficult year with injury. He returned from an Achilles injury suffered in 2023, but suffered a similar injury, which has left him sidelined for months. The American striker was due to make a return around this time but suffered a setback, and so he won’t play until 2025.

Out: Daryl Dike, Semi Ajayi, and Callum Styles. Doubt: Paddy McNair and Grady Diangana

Bristol City team news

George Tanner was said to be 'close' to returning, having been missing since November 2. He was doing some work in training prior to the game last weekend, and is pushing to be a part of the match day squad. Utility man Kal Naismith hasn't played much football this term, but shouldn't be too far off a return.

It was initially reported that Mark Sykes had a minor injury but a setback put him out for a couple more weeks. The Republic of Ireland international could return in the New Year.

Sinclair Armstrong missed playing against his former club QPR at the weekend with an unspecified injury. Liam Manning has ruled him out of the trip to the West Midlands this week.

"He's going to be a couple of weeks," the City boss said to the Bristol Post.

"It's nothing major but when you've got such an explosive athlete, I think you have to be a little bit careful.

Midfielder Joe Williams had a partial tear of the Achilles. He's sidelined for the next few months. Ayman Benarous hasn't played since the end of the 2021/22 season having suffered successive ACL injuries. The club are still working with the youngster to get him back to fitness. Adam Murphy, who is yet to make his competitive debut since joining in 2023, is dealing with a 'long-term' issue. As a result, he won’t be available at the weekend.

Out: Mark Sykes, Sinclair Armstrong, Joe Williams, Ayman Benarous, Adam Murphy, and Kal Naismith. Doubt: George Tanner.