The Jason Koumas saga, which had no obvious beginning and might never reach a proper conclusion, took a new twist last night when the Wales international midfield player apparently agreed to return to West Bromwich Albion and strive for a first-team place.

Koumas has not spoken to Bryan Robson, the Albion manager, since the summer of 2005 but it appears that they are ready to settle their differences. The player wanted to sign for Cardiff City but the club could neither meet his wage demands nor afford the fee of £2 million.

Faced with the prospect of no club, no wages, no international future, and no sympathy, Koumas decided that turning up for work with Albion was the wisest course of action.

I understand that he spent most of Monday with his agent, discussing the diminishing options. At one point, Koumas sent out text messages with the words "West Brom, looking good".

John Toshack, the Wales international manager, had advised Koumas to return to The Hawthorns. Toshack will not consider extending Koumas's international career if the player is not training and playing on a regular basis. With that in mind, Koumas pulled out of the Wales squad that faced Bulgaria last night.

"He needs to get his future sorted out and needs to get himself fit," Toshack said. "I have told him where I stand on that."

Koumas spent the whole of last season on loan with Cardiff and has not been seen at The Hawthorns, or the Albion training headquarters, since. Albion have been fining Koumas on a weekly basis.

But the enmity is easing.

Koumas, aged 26, seems content to see out the remaining two years of his contract - he might even be interested in a contract extension - and Robson can embrace what is effectively a new signing; a creative midfield player.

Koumas joined Albion for £2.25 million during the Gary Megson era and, initially, forged a reputation for being the best player outside the Premiership. Megson helped t o make Koumas more defensive-minded but the player did not like the restrictions.

Under Robson, Koumas enjoyed life even less. He played for Robson just six times during the 2004-05 season and went on loan to Cardiff at the end of that campaign.

Nathan Ellington will not be risked when Albion play Colchester United on Saturday unless he is declared 100 per cent fit. Ellington, the Albion striker, limped off in the 26th minute of the match away to Southampton last Saturday with the same hamstring injury that curtailed his participation against Cardiff City four days before.

"It seems as if it has settled down again," Robson said. "But it is not a tear. It just keeps going tight on him and we feel it maybe is a little bit of a problem from his back as well. He's got a good chance of being available this weekend.

"But if he is involved against Colchester he has to be 100 per cent right this time because it's twice now he's had to come off in the first half.

"Although Nathan showed a good attitude in wanting to play at the weekend, we need to prepare better than that. With Diomansy Kamara being out and Nathan's injury we are a bit short up front.

"If Kamara's next X-ray is favourable, he should be back in around another four weeks."

Geoff Horsfield, the former Albion and Birmingham City striker, is facing a Football Association misconduct charge after being reported for using abusing and/or insulting words to Phil Sharp, the assistant referee, after being sent off for Leeds United against Crystal Palace last Sunday.

Horsfield has already been handed a three-match ban for the red card he received for clashing with Mark Hudson, the Palace defender, but now faces an additional charge.

The experienced forward has apologised for his reaction to the sending-off and had until 6pm last night to admit or deny the charge with a disciplinary commission due to hear the case next week.

"I apologise for what I said," Horsfield said. "It was in the heat of the moment because I didn't think I deserved to be sent off."

Horsfield joined Leeds from Sheffield United on loan until Christmas, when Kevin Blackwell has the option of signing him permanently.

Portsmouth are still trying to push through a deal to sign Nwankwo Kanu, the former West Bromwich Albion striker, and avoid starting the season with just one fit striker.