Albion hope they have given Lewis Dunk valuable respite before a busy period with club and country.

The skipper was taken off for the closing stages of a 3-0 defeat at Fulham on Saturday.

He played 90 minutes in the FA Cup tie at Wolves last week and the expectation is he will lead his side out at AS Roma on Thursday.

Dunk was among several players who had minutes limited at Craven Cottage.

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi said: “For physical condition I have to manage these players in the best way.

“We play Roma, we play on Sunday against Nottingham Forest, then another Thursday at the Amex and then maybe Lewis can play with the national team.

“He cannot play every game for 90 minutes.”

Pascal Gross and Facundo Buonanotte went on as subs at Fulham while Danny Welbeck was not used at all.

It would appear likely all three of these players will start at the Stadio Olimpico while Billy Gilmour is available and fresh.

Jason Steele has played in goal in the last two games but Bart Verbruggen would appear a strong contender to play in Italy.