Tex back for the Baggies

Albion have been given an injury boost with the news that Filipe Teixeria has returned to full training and will be included in next Tuesday's reserve squad to face West Ham. The Portuguese wizard has been on the sidelines for the past six months after suffering cruciate ligament damage in his left knee against Plymouth in March.

Teixeria had been completing his rehabilitation back in Portugal but returned to the Black Country two weeks ago to start light training. The former Academica de Coimbra star is now due to make his long awaited comeback after feel no ill-effects with Tony Mowbray revelling the versatile midfielder is chomping at the bit for a return to first-team action and a Premiership debut.

"He's chomping at the bit," said the Baggies boss.

"He is telling me he is ready to play.

"I am saying to him there is a reserve game in a week's time, but I think he is hoping he is going to be involved in the first team as of this weekend.

"He is progressing now, he has trained fully and we are not looking after him anymore.

"He is in full-contact training.

"It's down to him now.

"He has got to shine bright enough to get back into the first team very, very quickly.

"It won't be through a lack of talent.

"From what I see on the training ground in small-sided games on little pitches and in the drills we do, he is fine.

"But 90-minute games on a full-size pitch can take your breath away after being out for so long and I think he will find that out next week in the reserves."

Mowbray continued: "He is a good lad," he added.

"The supporters like him, the team like his quality and I like the versatility he brings.

"He's a bit like James Morrison, you can play him off a striker, or play him wide either side, or in the centre of midfield."