Matt O’Riley is “immediately looking to the future” after being ruled out due to an ankle injury.

Albion’s new signing will need surgery to repair the injury sustained in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win against Crawley.

Fabian Huerzeler said in his pre-match press conference for Saturday’s game against Arsenal that the injury is a “tough one for us” but thinks he will “come back strong”.

He said: “It’s a bad injury. He needs surgery on his ankle. I can’t say how long we expect him to be out.

“We have to look at how the rehab will go.

“It’s a tough one for us but we try to support him as best as we can and get him on the pitch as fast as possible on the pitch.

“Let’s hope he will be back soon.

“I had a small chat with him yesterday. It’s not the best situation he is very, very disappointed but he has good character and he is a very positive guy. He looks immediately to the future and says he will be back soon and he will come back stronger.

“That’s a very positive thing what I like his attitude is very important that you also stay mentally strong in tough moments like this.

“You can’t change it in the end and I think he will come back strong.”

O’Riley signed for around £25 million from Celtic on Monday but was injured in a horror clash with Crawley captain Jay Williams on Tuesday.

He limped off the pitch and will require ankle surgery before his return.