Fabian Huerzeler is putting no target date on a return to action for Joao Pedro.

But he said the Brazilian “warrior” did not aggravate his ankle by staying on the pitch against Nottingham Forest.

Last seasons’ top scorer missed the visit of Tottenham and it is not clear when he will be back.

He was hurt in a foul by Morgan Gibbs-White which led to the Forest man receiving a second yellow card.

Huerzeler was also sent off at the same stoppage.

By that stage, Albion had only sent on four substitutes but had used three windows.

Huerzeler said: “Even if we had one more substitution, I think he wouldn't get off the pitch because he's a warrior and he's a fighter and he wants to help the team.

“And I think he doesn’t want to get off the pitch if he still can run.

“I think the last ten minutes don't make the injury worse than it was before.”

Asked about the severity of the injury, Huerzeler was guarded but said: “We have to be careful not to give any plans to come back in the future.

“It can be fast, it can be slow, but I'm a positive guy.

“I think that he's a great healer and that's why I'm very positive and I'm looking forward that he's back on the pitch as soon as possible, but I can't say if it takes like two weeks or three weeks or four weeks.

“But I think, and I hope, that it doesn't take that long.”