West Brom boss on Chris Mepham fitness concern ahead of Wales duty

The experienced centre-back has once again been called up to represent Wales despite the issue and Albion head coach Ryan Mason is hopeful Mepham will be available to return to action for his club side at Championship leaders Coventry on Saturday week.

"I'm never one to sit here and make excuses, but there's a couple of players that are nursing a few things that don't allow us to play in three games in a week at the moment," Mason said.

"Mepps, for example, has been on the bench the last couple of games, but he's not necessarily been able to play. He has something that hasn't allowed him to play in the last couple of games.

"Obviously Krystian (Bielik) hasn't gone back-to-back in games of football for maybe close to a year. He put a massive shift in last Tuesday and was physically exhausted. I think you could see I had to bring him off in the 93rd minute because he couldn't even stand up.

"But the dedication and the commitment he gave to the team was massive. Krystian, Mepps, Charlie (Taylor), they've all got a massive part to play.

"Charlie played at centre-back in a four, he has played at centre-back in a three on Tuesday, he's played as a left-back and we're going to need players to contribute in different positions."

Asked if Mepham's fitness issue is a long-term concern, Mason added: "Hopefully not. We're assessing him and hopefully he will be OK."

Mepham was a surprise substitute in the defeat at Charlton as Krystian Bielik and Charlie Taylor started in a back three. For Bielik it was a first Albion start and he was replaced by an unfit Mepham in stoppage time - before the Addicks' Sonny Carey struck a last-gasp deflected winner off Mepham.

Taylor remained in place for the victory over Oxford last time out and partnered Nat Phillips in Mason's backline.

Wales are in World Cup qualifier action in Liechtenstein on Saturday and at home to North Macedonia on Tuesday.