Sam Baldock has welcomed the return to fitness of Kazenga LuaLua for Albion – even though it could cost him his place.
LuaLua had a 45-minute outing in the under-21s on Tuesday and is back in contention for Nottingham Forest’s visit on Saturday after 11 weeks out with knee trouble.
Baldock has been filling in for the former Newcastle flyer on the left-wing under Chris Hughton but the striker-turned-wide-man is now injured himself.
A minor hamstring problem sustained in last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Blackpool is likely to sideline him from Forest’s visit. LuaLua’s return will make it more difficult for Baldock to regain a spot but the ex-Bristol City marksman is more concerned about the team. He told The Argus: “Kazenga coming back is something that I think everyone in the squad has been looking for.
“If you look at the last two games we’ve played without a natural winger, myself and Calde (Inigo Calderon), so it’s something we have all been looking forward to.
“Competition all over the team is high. Solly (March) is knocking on the door. He’s been brilliant in training, waiting for his opportunity to come back in as well, so it’s not as if the team is picked for the rest of the season.”
LuaLua and January recruits Beram Kayal and Leon Best are all in the frame for the Forest clash.
On-loan Greg Halford, Albion’s other January signing, is ineligible to face his parent club after missing the last three matches with a calf injury.
Original article
LuaLua had a 45-minute outing in the under-21s on Tuesday and is back in contention for Nottingham Forest’s visit on Saturday after 11 weeks out with knee trouble.
Baldock has been filling in for the former Newcastle flyer on the left-wing under Chris Hughton but the striker-turned-wide-man is now injured himself.
A minor hamstring problem sustained in last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Blackpool is likely to sideline him from Forest’s visit. LuaLua’s return will make it more difficult for Baldock to regain a spot but the ex-Bristol City marksman is more concerned about the team. He told The Argus: “Kazenga coming back is something that I think everyone in the squad has been looking for.
“If you look at the last two games we’ve played without a natural winger, myself and Calde (Inigo Calderon), so it’s something we have all been looking forward to.
“Competition all over the team is high. Solly (March) is knocking on the door. He’s been brilliant in training, waiting for his opportunity to come back in as well, so it’s not as if the team is picked for the rest of the season.”
LuaLua and January recruits Beram Kayal and Leon Best are all in the frame for the Forest clash.
On-loan Greg Halford, Albion’s other January signing, is ineligible to face his parent club after missing the last three matches with a calf injury.
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- Calderwood up for the challenge with Albion - after his longest break from football
Original article