Midfielder fitness boost

West Brom midfielder Filipe Teixeira is to step up his fitness work as he makes progress from his cruciate knee injury.

Teixeira has been back in Portugal recovering from the injury he picked up back in March against Plymouth but he is now ready to take the next step in his rehabilitation which should include some ball work.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray is delighted to see the Portugese midfielder back , "He'll be back in this week," Mowbray told the Birmingham Mail.

"He had a consultation with the specialist out in Portugal who's been overseeing his rehab.

"We hope he gets permission to get back into light training this week. I would hope he'll be back on the training ground next week.

"It's too early to set a date - we'll see how he is.

"You have to be very tentative so he'll be doing no contact training, just ball work, twisting, passing, running.

"No one will be allowed to tackle him for a few weeks and then as he builds his confidence up to put his foot back in the challenges we will progress him bit by bit."