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Glen Williams

Sabri Lamouchi delivers mixed Cardiff City injury news ahead of West Brom and hints at system change with key man out

Sabri Lamouchi expects to have Joe Ralls back in contention for the clash with West Brom on Wednesday night but Connor Wickham remains a doubt.

The pair were omitted from the squad defeated 2-0 by Preston North End at the weekend after they sustained minor injuries in training in the lead-up to the game.

However, it appears Ralls has recovered well enough to be included for Wednesday night's encounter with the Baggies, with Wickham likely to face a late fitness test.

READ MORE: Cardiff City news as Bluebirds left sweating on duo and debut celebrated around the world

"Joe will probably be with us. He trained yesterday and he will train again today," Lamouchi said on Tuesday morning.

"We will see with Connor Wickham."

Cedric Kipre will be unavailable for the game against his parent club, leaving a giant hole in the middle of the defence. Kipre has, by and large, been excellent for City this season and has formed a solid partnership alongside Mark McGuinness and Perry Ng in a back three.

But with Kipre unavailable, how does Lamouchi solve that issue? Jack Simpson has not had the debut season he would have liked in south Wales, while rookies Oliver Denham and Xavier Benjamin have not featured in the league this season. So does a flat back four now come into the thinking?

"I have two options, but not more, to keep the same system or to change," Lamouchi said.

"We don't have a lot of centre-backs, to we will see what we will do."

Cardiff will be desperate to get back on the winning trail after defeat at Deepdale last weekend, however play-off chasing West Brom is no easy feat.

Cardiff, at the other end of the table, are trying to claw their way out of relegation trouble. And to ensure his Bluebirds players do not forget their end goal, Lamouchi has the Championship table hung around the training complex as a motivational aid.

"I'm looking at the table. I put the table up in the restaurant, in the medical room, in the locker room, they need to know where we are," the manager added.

"They need to know where the others are and how many points in front or behind they are. To be aware of the situation.

"I'm not scared. This is part of our job and we are working for that every day.

"For me, this squad doesn't deserve to be where we are. But we are where we are. Now we need to find a solution and this is my job.

"Then, after that, it's to understand why this season started like that. But it's not time to complain. It's time to work hard and get the points."

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