Ryan Mason gives 'hope so' answer when it comes to Karlan Grant injury comeback

Grant has been sidelined for six matches with an unspecified muscle injury that has not seen him feature since the 1-1 home draw against Portsmouth on August 23.

He started the season as first-choice on the left of Ryan Mason's attack for Albion but has seen Mikey Johnston take up his place in the side.

Attacker Grant, who turned 28 last month, is yet to return to team training, though Mason hopes that step is not too far away. 

"We hope so," said Mason when asked if Grant may return to training before Albion's next match against Preston Saturday week. "He's certainly someone we've missed.

"He's a big part of our team and he's a big part of how we play. We've not had him for six games now. He's not with the group yet.

"We're still assessing him. He's getting closer but he's getting to that period where he's actually had quite a long time out.

"When you have a while out, I think when we come back, we go into three games and he needs to train.

"When that will be, we don't know yet. We're still assessing him daily."

Grant has entered the final season of the six-year contract he agreed when making a big-money move from Huddersfield Town to The Hawthorns in 2020 following the Baggies' promotion to the Premier League.

It was agreed the £15million fee would be spread and paid across the forward's six-year deal.

Grant - described as "a character" by head coach Mason - has been through an up and down time while at Albion, where he is now the club's longest-serving first-team player.

He finished 18-goal top scorer in his second term following relegation but was farmed out on loan to league rivals Cardiff in 2023/24. The left-sided attacker won praise from then-boss Carlos Corberan upon his return.

"We miss him and we want him back," added Mason. "He's a character as well and we value that. 

"We just need to make sure that when he comes back, he stays back and he's been working hard."