West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Irvine has insisted that he is "looking forward" to working with Victor Anichebe once more upon the striker's return from injury.

The 26-year-old has made just three starts for the Baggies so far this season having been plagued by a nagging hernia problem.

Anichebe, who worked with Irvine at Everton, now faces competition to win back a place in the side, with Saido Berahino, Georgios Samaras and Brown Ideye all battling for a starting spot.

"He is frustrated, and he's particularly frustrated because he'd got a good pre-season under his belt," the Birmingham Mail quotes Irvine as saying. "He had started the season looking as if he was going to play a really big part.

"He and I have a relationship that goes back a number of years and we were really looking forward to working together again and unfortunately this has set him back.

"He will come back from this. It's not a career-threatening injury. We've just got to make sure when he comes back, he's back."

West Brom, who are currently 14th in the Premier League table, take on Manchester United following the conclusion of the international break.