Albion are sweating over the extent of a knee injury which has left defender Dean Blackwell on crutches.

A scan yesterday proved inconclusive and further tests are now required to pinpoint the damage.

Assistant manager Bob Booker revealed today: "Dean will have another scan tomorrow and then probably a scope, where they look inside the knee with a camera.

"There is a lot of blood in there and swelling, which is a bit of a concern, and the bone is very badly bruised."

Centre half Blackwell sustained the injury in an innocuous incident in training last Friday.

Booker said: "We were just in the middle of a small sided game, with no silly tackling.

"He just twisted a little bit and it looked like he had hurt his back. There was no contact, so it was just one of those freak things."

The injury scare has arisen with former Wimbledon stalwart Blackwell on the brink of agreeing a new one-year contract and Albion's opening game of the season at Oldham less than five weeks away.

Veteran goalkeeper Dave Beasant has not given up hope of negotiating a new deal.

Boss Steve Coppell revealed to The Argus last week that Beasant is dissatisfied with the club's offer, but he said today: "I haven't dismissed any hopes of re-signing.

"The problem is I went there last season more or less to get myself in the shop window again and prove to people that I am still capable of doing a good job.

"I feel I did that and now we have obviously got to renegotiate a new contract.

"I don't think I am asking for anything unreasonable and I think the manager feels the same way. Hopefully, both sides will look for it to be resolved sooner rather than later."

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