West Brom's Gareth McAuley feeling 'perfectly normal again'
Gareth McAuley says his thigh feels 'perfectly normal again' after coming through an under-23s match on Monday.
The 37-year-old defender hasn't featured yet this season, but he could be available for this weekend's match against West Ham.
The Northern Irishman played his first minutes this week since aggravating his thigh injury in June and then came through a double training session with the first team squad on Tuesday.
“It was good to get the old stripes on again after a frustrating time for me,” said McAuley.
“Everything went well and the leg is now feeling perfectly normal again. It’s been a frustrating period and obviously not ideal having my pre-season interrupted.
“But it feels good again. Now it’s a question of trying to get that place back in the starting XI. The competition doesn’t get any easier with the players we have been signing!”
Tony Pulis has been playing Ahmed Hegazi and Craig Dawson at centre-back this season, but dropped Jonny Evans back into the line-up last weekend after his return from injury.
McAuley is now competing with three other players for his position at the heart of defence.
Meanwhile, Oliver Burke's scan on his hamstring revealed nothing serious.
