Premier League preview: West Brom v Norwich

Norwich City will look to climb higher in the Premier League table when they travel to struggling West Brom on Saturday.

Norwich have lost only once in their past six outings, picking up nine points out of a possible 12 to move into eighth place in the table, four points behind Stoke City who are on 29.

Roy Hodgson’s West Brom are in 15th place on 22 points, five ahead of their nearest rivals Wolves and Queens Park Rangers.

West Brom have some breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone but Hodgson will know he cannot allow that gap to shrink.

West Brom’s FA Cup hero Simon Cox is expecting to start after resolving issues with Hodgson.

Cox has refused to rule out a move in the January transfer window in a bid to secure his place in the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 squad.

The 24-year-old has had to settle for a watching brief behind international team mate Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie, the man who sunk Norwich at Carrow Road in September, for the first half of the league season.

But Cox’s hat-trick against Cardiff earned the Baggies a fourth round home date against Norwich.

Long may miss the home match against Norwich with a back injury but there is better news for others on the casualty list.

Jonas Olsson, Paul Scharner, Jerome Thomas, Youssouf Mulumbu and Gareth McAuley are all expected to have late fitness tests.

Meanwhile, Norwich’s rise into the top 10 has come without keeping a clean sheet in their first 20 matches.

Paul Lambert’s men have, however, been prolific at the opposite end of the pitch with only the top five outscoring the Norfolk side.

Lambert is hopeful ex-Liverpool pair Daniel Ayala and Zak Whitbread can establish a partnership at the heart of defence, and they need to with Ritchie De Laet, on loan from Manchester United, and Elliott Ward both out injured.

Marc Tierney and forward James Vaughan are also likely to be sidelined again.

With Grant Holt and Steve Morison impressive up front with seven goals each, Lambert’s side will be out to build on a strong first half of the campaign, beginning with a win at The Hawthorns.