Brunt targets Christmas return

West Brom midfielder Chris Brunt has revealed his recovery from a hamstring strain is going better than expected.

The 27-year-old was forced to leave the field after sustaining the injury during his side’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in the Premier League last month.

However, the Northern Irishman has insisted the blow is not as severe as first thought and hopes to regain full fitness ahead of the busy Christmas fixture list.

“I’m not too sure what the overall timescale on the injury is, but it’s coming along,” he said.

“It wasn’t as bad as we thought at first because it felt like a nasty one when I got it at Villa Park, so in that sense it isn’t too serious.

“The problem is that it’s happened a couple of times now, so this time I want to make absolutely sure it’s right before I come back because it’s no use to anybody doing two or three weeks at a time and then getting another injury.

“At least with the international break I won’t miss so much football, but once we’re back and you start the run towards Christmas the games come at you without a break, so I need to be right for this period coming up.”