Sheffield Wednesday: How West Brom tested the fitness of former Owls favourite Chris Brunt ahead of Hawthorns clash

Former Sheffield Wednesday flyer Chris Brunt is a doubt for West Brom’s clash with the Owls this weekend, having pulled up with a calf injury in a fitness-testing reserve outing earlier this week.
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The Baggies are without three first team players through suspension, with influential midfield duo Romaine Sawyers and former England international Jake Livermore ruled out through suspension.

That could have left the door open for Brunt to make an eyebrow-raising return to action, but he could only complete an hour’s action for the club’s reserve side in their 4-0 Central League win over Port Vale.

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The Northern Irishman, who left Wednesday for the Hawthorns club back in 2007, has played a grand total of only 13 Championship minutes for the table-toppers this season.

He was just one of six first team squad members to feature in the match, including former England internationals Kieran Gibbs – who could also feature having not featured since a 1-1 draw with Derby in August – and Gareth Barry.

On the reserves’ win, Baggies boss Slaven Bilic said on Thursday: “It was Kieran, Gareth, Chris and it was Rekeem [Harper], Rayhaan [Tulloch] and Chris [Willock].

“It was half of our team, basically, or half of the players who have been here training every day.

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“They did well. Chris came off at half time, he felt his calf so he missed a couple of days of training. We’ll see how he is on Friday.

West Brom's Chris Brunt hurt his calf in a reserve game earlier this weekWest Brom's Chris Brunt hurt his calf in a reserve game earlier this week
West Brom's Chris Brunt hurt his calf in a reserve game earlier this week

“Gareth played 60 minutes. He’s everything, but if you look at it he’s a player who has been out for so long and is 60 minutes enough?

“If it wasn’t Gareth Barry, he’d need a few more. Because we know who he is, he’s bossing the game, he’s giving me not a positive headache but an opportunity.”

West Brom’s international contingent have all returned from the break unscathed, leaving Bilic with a full squad to choose from aside from the suspended trio and possibly Brunt, who scored a dramatic late equaliser in the two sides meeting last season.

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“The internationals came back with no injuries. All of them played,” said Bilic. “Ahmed [Hegazi] played a couple of games, which was important for him. Semi [Ajayi] played a couple of games that perhaps he didn’t need.

“Like every other situation it’s good. On one hand you’d love to have all of your players with you, but being an international player - it gives you another dimension, more motivation.”

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