Baggies wary of Mosquito
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray is wary of the threat posed by Coventry striker Michael Mifsud in this evening's Coca-Cola Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena.
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray is wary of the threat posed by Coventry striker Michael Mifsud in this evening's Coca-Cola Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena.
The Maltese striker, nicknamed 'the Mosquito', is proving one of the most dangerous forwards in the second tier having scored 11 times in his last 16 outings, including two against Manchester United.
But Mowbray revealed he has a secret weapon in the Albion camp who already has all the inside knowledge on Mifsud having played alongside him at Norwegian side Lillestrom.
"Michael is someone we know a lot about," Mowbray said. "He came from the same team as Robert Koren.
"He's good, is scoring goals and I'm pleased for him because he's a nice man. He knows where the net is and always has known where the net is. He's a regular scorer and will pose a threat to us.
"His confidence levels will be high. Those goals at Old Trafford will have sparked that flame.
"We will have to be at our best to get the right result and the performance."
Central defender Martin Albrechtsen and 10-goal top-scorer Kevin Phillips are set to miss the match, with the Danish international out after suffering ligament and cartilage damage in the 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday. Phillips is struggling with a knee complaint.
But Mowbray looks certain to compensate for Albrechtsen's absence by handing a recall to summer capture Leon Barnett.
Sky Blues boss Iain Dowie will be without striker Robbie Simpson after he was forced off with a ruptured hamstring during last weekend's 3-1 victory at Stoke and is unlikely to return until 2008.
David McNamee is also doubtful for the clash following a recurrence of a hamstring problem in the 2-1 win at QPR on Tuesday night.
Achilles injury victim Colin Hawkins, Garry Borrowdale (ankle) and Michael Hughes (groin) are ruled out but City could welcome back striker Leon McKenzie after his spell on the sidelines with a knee problem.
McKenzie has seen Mifsud's impact at City first hand and is desperate for a chance to play alongside him.
He said: "I am on 99 career goals so I am looking for my 100th but I know I might have to be patient and bide my time to get my chance because the little man has been playing really well while I have been out."