Albion will not rush Puskas Award contender Julio Enciso as excitement mounts that he is on his way back.

They are also keeping a careful eye on Ansu Fati, the man hired on loan to replace him.

Enciso will learn whether his goal against Manchester City last season has clinched the prestigious global award on January 15.

A report, eagerly seized upon, from his native Paraguay suggested he would resume training the next day.

But De Zerbi was less willing to put on a date on it as he said: “My physical staff told me another four, five weeks.

“Ansu more or less (the same).”

Asked whether that was a possible date to resume training or playing, De Zerbi joked: “Great question - I hope they can play tomorrow!”

He added: “We can decide but we can’t push too strong because we have to accept the right time.”

Enciso has made the three-goal final list for FIFA’s Puskas Award, which is essentially a world goal of the year competition.

He is up against an overhead bicycle kick from Botafogo midfielder Guilherme Madruga in Brazil and a Rabona by Nuno Santos of Sporting in Portugal.

Enciso has been out since early season with a knee injury while Fati has been sidelined since late November by a hamstring problem.