West Brom to make left-back call ahead of Millwall after Charlie Taylor issue

Experienced loan full-back Taylor, 32, enjoyed an encouraging first two appearances in Baggies colours having checked into The Hawthorns on a temporary deadline day switch from Championship rivals Southampton.

Having helped Ryan Mason's side to within a stoppage-time equaliser of three points against Leicester on his debut, Taylor played his part in Wednesday night's 1-0 victory at Norwich.

The former Burnley left-back limped off with 15 minutes to go at Carrow Road, with head coach Mason confirming to the Express & Star the issue was "muscle fatigue" having spent much of last season on the fringes for parent club Southampton, then of the Premier League.

Taylor will be assessed by Albion's medical and physical department ahead of the Championship clash at Millwall on Saturday, for which the Baggies will travel on Friday.

"He's feeling a bit of fatigue and he's growing (with the squad)," Mason said. "Obviously he hasn't played a lot of football in the last 12 or 13 months, and with it being a five or six day turnaround (from Leicester before Norwich), we thought he'd be OK and hopefully it's nothing too serious."

Given Taylor was limited to just three top flight starts in the entirety of last term, hope of him featuring from the off on Saturday having limped out three nights earlier feels slim.

That could open the door to Callum Styles, whose place on the left of defence Taylor had taken, to return at one of his former loan clubs.

Styles spent a season on loan with the Lions in 2022/23 and scored in a victory against the Baggies.

Albion handed debuts to summer defensive recruit duo Krystian Bielik and Alfie Gilchrist as late subs in Norfolk. Mason switched to a back five to protect his side's 1-0 lead as Bielik was included as a third centre-half and Gilchrist arrived at left wing-back for Sammy Iling-Junior.

Mason confirmed, meanwhile, that midfielder Jayson Molumby was fine following a collision and treatment against the Canaries in midweek, where Albion returned to winning ways.

That game was Molumby's 150th appearance for the club and he was rewarded the following day by a first Republic of Ireland call-up since last November ahead of the internationals beginning after this weekend.

Attacking trio Daryl Dike, Tammer Bany and Karlan Grant are not yet ready to return.

Striker Dike and attacking midfielder Bany have been sidelined since before the start of the season with muscle injuries but have returned to training. The trip to The Den is too soon and the duo are expected to step up their recoveries in the fortnight international break.

Grant, who started the season in Mason's first XI on the left side of attack, has not featured since August 23 against Portsmouth and is not yet ready to train owing to a muscle injury.