West Brom dealt big Black Country derby fitness blow

The 23-year-old US international made his first Albion appearance in nine months in the recent FA Cup win over Aldershot – netting on his Hawthorns comeback.

Carlos Corberan and the club's medical staff have been managing Dike's return - and he has subsequently made substitute appearances against Blackburn Rovers and most recently Norwich City.

However at Friday's pre-match press conference Corberan revealed the forward has suffered a minor issue with his calf, picked up in last week's defeat at Carrow Road.

Albion are, however, working to complete a second transfer of the January window.

As reported elsewhere, the Baggies are in advanced negotiations to bring West Ham striking starlet Callum Marshall on loan.

The Northern Ireland teen, 19, has only been with the Irons since January 2022, but has caught the eye this season with a remarkable goal return for West Ham's high-flying under-21 side.

Marshall, a senior Northern Ireland international with three caps, has scored 19 goals in 14 under-21s appearances this season.

The Baggies are working on wrapping up the loan deal, with Marshall reported to have penned a new deal at the London Stadium. Marshall would not be able to feature in Sunday's FA Cup derby, as he made his senior Hammers bow in the previous round as a late substitute against Bristol City.

Throughout the week Dike has been working with the club's medical staff on the calf issue – and will not be available for Sunday's Black Country derby.

But Corberan also explained that Dike's set back is not a major one and he is hopeful to have the striker available for selection in the clash with Birmingham City on February 3.

Corberan told the Express & Star: "A player who is not going to be in the game is Dike, because after playing some minutes in the last game he felt a tightness in the calf, he cannot make a normal week (training), he has been working with physios on the pitch, but will not be in the game.

"No it's not an important injury, the muscle didn't react well after the minutes playing and sometimes with the fact we travelled on the bus, with a lot of time there, then you play minutes, and then you travel, you can feel a reaction – but that's why I said with Dike we need to understand he arrived from a long-term injury.

"We are going to have these moments and it's important to manage everything with him in the best way we can manage. Maybe the fact our medical staff is too aware of his situation, he's not having an important injury, but we need to be following all the processes to avoid an important injury that decreases his possibility more than one week.

"I think so (he'll be OK after one week) but we need to see how he progresses."

Corberan also confirmed midfielder Jayson Molumby will have surgery on a foot injury on Monday and could miss the remainder of the campaign, dependent on his rehabilitation.

Adam Reach (ankle) is out for four to six weeks with the knock he took at Norwich last weekend.