Albion are keeping their action-starved fringe players up to speed to make sure they are ready if needed to help in the relegation battle.

Former first team regulars like Adam Virgo, Andrew Whing and Dean Cox are being put through their paces in training in a bid to overcome an unhelpful fixture programme.

The reserves have not played since November 10, Gus Poyet’s first day in charge, and their next match is not until January 6.

Virgo has played only 90 minutes under Poyet, Whing has not been involved in the last four games and Dean Cox has been on the bench over the same period.

Gary Hart, Jake Wright and Craig Davies are others short of competitive action.

Tuesday’s rearranged reserve game away to Crystal Palace was postponed because Albion played in the FA Youth Cup the night before.

Poyet did not want to risk the senior pros ahead of the hectic festive programme, particularly with Adam El-Abd, Gary Dicker and Liam Dickinson all still a booking away from a ban.

He said: “We are making sure we play plenty of football during the week (in training). We are making sure they are running and, if you look at January, we have got three reserve games.

“All the players know my idea is to have a group of 23 or 24 players and to bring one or two from the youth team.

“This is a special situation at the moment. We are trying to live with it. If you ask me if I like it I don’t but I have to accept it.

“That is why I made a few decisions, for example to send the Nottingham Forest boys (Arron Davies and Matt Thornhill) back.”

Poyet will make a late decision on the availability of Michel Kuipers for Saturday’s trip to Swindon following a couple of false starts for the long-serving Dutch goalkeeper.

Kuipers has missed the last six and a half matches due to a persistent groin problem.

Poyet will not decide whether Andrew Crofts’ appointment as captain at Virgo’s expense is permanent until the new year.