West Brom V Sunderland Barclays Premier League Match 21 -September 2013. West Brom's Stephane Sessegnon could make his debut against his former club after receiving a work permit.
Forwards Shane Long and Matej Vydra are doubts with respective knee and hamstring problems.
Sunderland captain John O'Shea is back from suspension, while fit-again midfielder Lee Cattermole could feature for the first time this season.Watch West Brom V Sunderland Live, Watch West Brom V Sunderland Live Stream, Watch West Brom V Sunderland Free Live Stream, Watch West Brom V Sunderland Online, Watch West Brom V Sunderland Online Free, West Brom V Sunderland Live, West Brom V Sunderland live stream Online.
Emanuele Giaccherini has recovered from a hamstring problem but Wes Brown is ruled out by a calf injury.
MATCH PREVIEW
After just a month of the new season it would seem churlish to attach too much significance to a meeting of the Premier League's bottom two.
However, history has shown that recovering from a bad start can be problematic in the world's most unforgiving division.
This time last season, for example, both Reading and QPR already languished in the bottom three; the die cast, they barely moved for the remainder of the campaign.
This weekend's loser may feel decidedly insecure and a look at the challenges that lie ahead will only add to that concern.
For West Brom, who only celebrated their first league goal of the season last weekend, trips to Old Trafford, the Britannia Stadium and Anfield are lined up, with a visit from Arsenal sandwiched in between.
Sunderland host Liverpool and Manchester United before a 350-mile trip to Swansea precedes their derby with Newcastle. It all points to Saturday's events taking on greater importance than they might otherwise have done.
Both clubs are winless in their last eight games stretching back to April. The Baggies have actually only won one of their last 13 and none in front of their own fans since 9 March. Paolo Di Canio's two victories early in his reign are the only wins Sunderland have recorded since January!
Statistics aside though, the potential debut of Stephane Sessegnon adds a final delightful twist to this fascinating tale.
A work permit delay means that his long-awaited bow will now come against the manager who deemed him surplus to requirements - surely his name will be the first on Steve Clarke's team sheet?
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Brom are chasing a fourth successive win against Sunderland, and have won six of their previous seven Premier League games against the Black Cats (W6, D1).
Sunderland have only won one top-flight game at the Hawthorns in 31 years - a 1-0 victory in January 2006 when Anthony Le Tallec got the only goal.
West Bromwich Albion
With two points from four games, the Baggies have made their worst start to a top-flight season since 1985.
West Brom are winless in eight league games (D3, L5).
They claimed 33 of 49 points in the first half of the 2012-13 campaign, but since then have taken just 18 points from 23 games (including this season).
Nicolas Anelka has scored seven goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Sunderland.
Sunderland
The Black Cats won two of their first three games under Paolo Di Canio, but since then have claimed three points from eight league matches (D3, L5).
They have failed to keep a clean sheet in those eight games, conceding a total of 17 goals.
Their win at Newcastle in April is their only victory in their last nine away league games (W1, D1, L7).
Steven Fletcher has scored three goals in four Premier League games against West Brom.