West Brom boss Eric Ramsay hopeful of midfield boost ahead of key week

Albion's Ousmane Diakite was last week granted compassionate leave to return to Mali following the death of his brother Madou.

It left new boss Ramsay with no recognised senior midfield options for his opener on Friday night against Middlesbrough, who denied the hosts a comeback point by snatching all three on 90 minutes through Delano Burgzorg.

Ramsay, though, is hopeful either Mowatt or Molumby could play a part in Tuesday night's huge home clash against fellow lowly side Norwich, or by the trip to mid-table Derby next Friday.

"They are short-term concerns but they have been ongoing concerns and I think we're at a stage in the season where we would really like to see both of those players get past those concerns and in a three-game week that's tricky," Ramsay said of the pair.

"I think continually forcing players through pain is tough. Obviously (they are) good characters that are really willing to do so but I think the reset will be helpful hopefully and there's probably room for optimism as we move into Tuesday and certainly if that's not the case we we would be hopeful for Friday.

Albion's midfield two were Callum Styles, so often left-back in his 18 months at the club, and last summer's centre-back recruit Krystian Bielik.

"I wasn't uncomfortable going into the game with those two in the middle," the head coach added. "I think both have their strengths in there. But of course as we move through, more depth and options in there will will really help us.

"If you look at the two players that started the game, it's not a lack of experience in the middle. In no way were there poor performances by either of those two players. So I think for us to have seen both Callum and Krystian in those positions also adds to a sense of depth, adds to our knowledge of the players, which is important."

Ramsay confirmed to the Express & Star that Malian Diakite is expected back at the club by Monday having been granted time with his family following last week's tragic news.

The head coach is yet to meet Diakite and extended his well-wishes to the midfielder, for whom Albion players wore special T-shirts in support of while warming up on Friday.

"It is a really tough, tough situation for Oussie Diakite and he's not a player that I've been able to meet yet and it's definitely not lost on everyone here how tough that is and everyone's thinking of him," Ramsay said.

"Obviously I'm certainly minded to give people as much space as required in those circumstances."

Albion tackle Norwich on Tuesday night looking to respond from the late defeat in Ramsay's opener against Boro. The Canaries appointed Belgian former Rangers boss Philippe Clement in November after parting ways with Liam Manning following a dreadful start to the season.