Premier League preview: Stoke v West Brom

West Bromwich Albion will attempt to end a run of five Premier League matches without a win at Stoke City on Saturday.

Roy Hodgson’s West Brom have not recorded a league victory since beating Newcastle United 3-2 on December 22.

They then managed a credible 0-0 draw at home to league leaders Manchester City, but have since followed it up with successive defeats to Everton, Tottenham and Norwich.

Albion fans can take heart from the fact that four of their six league wins have been on the road – the same tally as Arsenal, and level with Everton as the most away victories among clubs in the bottom half of the table.

But that strong away form is likely to be tested at the Britannia Stadium, where Stoke have lost just twice in 10 matches, giving them one of the best home records in the league.

Stoke are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, and are eighth on the table after earning a point from a 0-0 draw at Liverpool on Saturday.

West Brom, seven places and eight points worse off in 15th, can feel aggrieved not to be closer to their opponents after failing to take anything from their last outing.

Hodgson’s men went down 2-1 at home to Norwich on Saturday, when they were twice caught on the break despite dominating possession for long spells.

Albion will need a healthy dose of good fortune if they are to end their winless run, and they have already received a slice of luck with the unexpected availability of two key men.

Ordinarily, Cameroon’s Somen Tchoyi and Nigeria striker Peter Odemwingie would be absent on African Cup of Nations duty until as late as February 25.

But with both countries surprisingly failing to qualify, Hodgson can still call on the first-team regulars.

West Brom do have injury concerns to contend with – midfielders Steven Reid (ankle) and Chris Brunt (knee) are not expected back until February and March respectively, while Zoltan Gera (knee) is sidelined indefinitely.

Defenders Billy Jones (thigh) and Jonas Olsson (calf) are nearing a return to fitness.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has close to a full-strength compliment of players to choose from.

Luckless Mamady Sidibie will sit out the season after suffering a recurrence of a serious knee injury, but defender Ryan Shotton could return after sitting out the Liverpool match with an ankle problem.