Premier League preview: West Brom v Chelsea

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson is sweating on the return of skipper Chris Brunt for Saturday’s game against Chelsea.

The captain has not played since breaking his foot in the New Year’s Day fixture against Everton.

He has been training but Hodgson will assess Brunt’s fitness later in the week and once Jerome Thomas has been evaluated.

Thomas was forced off in the 4-0 win over Sunderland with a hamstring strain.

“Jerome Thomas has a slight hamstring injury but nothing too serious,” Hodgson told the Birmingham Mail.

“Again, he’s making a good recovery and we will see how things are. Chris has trained since last Thursday but it’s too early to tell whether he will be ready.”

“He’s technically fit. It’s down to match fitness – will he have the energy and stamina to go into a game of this level?”

“That’s the question we need an answer to if Thomas doesn’t make it and that isn’t by any means a given.”

West Brom, 13th with 32 points, can move up the table significantly with the four sides immediately above them – Sunderland, Everton, Fulham and Stoke – just one point clear.

Chelsea, who share fourth with Arsenal on 46 points, are hoping Didier Drogba will be fit after the striker limped out of the 3-0 victory over Bolton with an injury to his right knee.

He continues to be monitored in the build-up to trip to the Hawthorns after withdrawing from his country’s friendly against Guinea on Wednesday.

The Wanderers win was only the striker’s third game since he returned from African Nations Cup duty, with Chelsea struggling for goals in his absence.

He was replaced by Fernando Torres for the final 14 minutes, during which the 50 million pounds striker extended his scoreless run to 21 club matches.

There is better news for under-pressure manager Andre Villas-Boas with Ashley Cole recovering from a calf injury.

But Jose Bosingwa remains a doubt with a muscle injury.