With both sides looking to earn a statement victory as they strive for a top-six finish, West Bromwich Albion will do battle against Norwich City at The Hawthorns on Boxing Day in the Championship.

The Baggies have experienced a slump in results since the start of the festive schedule, while the Canaries are slowly returning to the levels which allowed them to be serious players in the second tier during previous campaigns.

Match preview

After a frustrating 1-1 draw with managerless Stoke City last weekend, West Bromwich Albion were unable to pass their Teesside test against Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough on Saturday, meaning the Baggies have won just once in five matches since the narrow victory at Cardiff City on November 28.

A former Albion youngster came back to haunt and taunt Carlos Corberan's men at the Riverside Stadium, with winger Morgan Rogers proving a constant nuisance for West Brom's full-backs, before the 21-year-old coolly finished a low-driven cross from Lukas Engel to secure maximum points.

For the first time in a while, Spaniard Corberan admitted that his side were second best on the day, and in truth, the Baggies have not looked totally convincing in any of their performances since the 2-0 win over Ipswich Town a month ago, when Darnell Furlong and Grady Diangana found the net.

Despite a recent downturn in form, the Black Country outfit still occupy a place inside the Championship's top six, although eighth-placed Norwich are just two points behind Tuesday's hosts ahead of a crucial clash at The Hawthorns, where Albion have only lost twice in 11 matches so far.

With a number of his striking counterparts struggling to keep out of the medical room, the ability of Brandon Thomas-Asante to stay fit has been crucial for West Brom this term, with the former Salford City man being included in Ghana's provisional squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after scoring six second-tier goals.

Following a pulsating 2-2 draw with East Anglian rivals Ipswich last weekend, Norwich City were able to return to winning ways at Carrow Road against Darren Moore's Huddersfield Town, extending the Canaries' unbeaten run in the month of December to five matches, strengthening their top-six chances.

Like in the majority of their home clashes this campaign, the Yellow and Greens dominated possession and had to be patient to break the deadlock, with substitute Sam McCallum netting his first Norwich goal early in the second period, before exciting attacker Borja Sainz scored his second goal in three matches.

After the arrival of new sporting director Ben Knapper to the club earlier in the season, it was reported that former Huddersfield boss Wagner was on trial in East Anglia following a less-than-inspiring start to the term, but 17 points from the last eight games has secured the German's position at Carrow Road for the time being.

The Canaries are now within striking distance of West Brom and sixth-placed Hull City ahead of their Boxing Day jaunt to the West Midlands, sitting two points behind Liam Rosenior's Tigers, who lost dramatically to Liam Manning's Bristol City on Friday night at Ashton Gate.

Only Sammie Szmodics, Adam Armstrong and Crysencio Summerville have scored more than Jon Rowe's 10 goals in the second tier this season, with the 20-year-old already etching his name into Norwich City folklore after bagging a brilliant brace at Portman Road on December 16.

Team News

West Brom are close to welcoming back Daryl Dike from an Achilles injury, and although the American has resumed first-team training, Corberan is planning to be very mindful in his use of the striker to avoid another lengthy lay-off.

Josh Maja and Matt Phillips are set to be sidelined until the final stages of the season due to ankle and hamstring issues respectively, with the Baggies ready to dip into the New Year market for a Phillips replacement.

After failing to find the net at the Riverside, the Baggies could introduce joint-top goalscorer John Swift into the XI at the expense of Jed Wallace, whilst youngster Tom Fellows will also be fighting for Jeremy Sarmiento's spot in the side.

Martin Kelly has suffered a setback on his road to recovery from a long-term knee injury, with the centre-back picking up a calf strain in training recently.

Norwich could be without the services of left-back Dimitrios Giannoulis on Boxing Day after he received an elbow to the head against Huddersfield and was subsequently forced off.

Goalscorer McCallum will replace the Greek in the XI if he is unable to feature, while Jack Stacey should keep his spot on the right of the visitors' backline.

Grant Hanley and Josh Sargent are expected to return to first-team action in the New Year following Achilles and ligament injuries respectively.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Kipre, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby, Wallace, Swift, Sarmiento; Thomas-Asante

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, McLean, McCallum; Nunez, Sara, Hernandez, Rowe, Sainz; Barnes

We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Norwich City

West Brom have struggled since the start of December with a tricky run of fixtures, but Corberan's Baggies are never pushovers at The Hawthorns under any circumstances.

Norwich are beginning to display their top-six credentials as the likes of Rowe and Sainz get into their strides, and we expect the Canaries to pick up a point on Boxing Day.


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