West Bromwich Albion entertain Preston North End at The Hawthorns tomorrow with new loan striker Ishmael Miller available but midfielder Richard Chaplow a serious doubt with a foot injury.

Chaplow missed Albion's 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in the Carling Cup on Tuesday and although he began training yesterday he was forced to pull up leaving him facing a late fitness test today.

With Albion's new £3 million midfielder Chris Brunt serving a three-match suspension incurred at the end of last season in his time at Sheffield Wednesday, the Baggies' only other non-starter is Slovenia international Robert Koren who has an eye injury.

Koren was, however, able to give manager Tony Mowbray some cheer with the news his recovery is two weeks ahead of schedule.

The midfielder was hit in the face by a stray ball in training 17 days ago and suffered damage to his left eyeball.

Mowbray is now hopeful Koren will return to action in time for the visit of Barnsley to The Hawthorns on September 1.

"The news on Robert is very positive at the moment and he is ahead of schedule," said the manager. "I was told four to six weeks initially but he's back in light training and next week will be back training with the full squad.

"Hopefully the week after that he will be back and fit and raring to go.

"Robert is very positive and is a lot happier about things at the moment and we are looking forward to getting him back on the training pitch."

Mowbray added: "Chappy trained but didn't finish the session. He still has a bit of soreness and we will have to wait and see but he is pretty close.

"He did make the majority of training so he is chomping at the bit to try and make our selection headaches stronger. We will weigh things up and decide later."

Meanwhile, Albion striker Stuart Nicholson has gone on a season-long loan at League Two outfit Shrewsbury Town though the Baggies have the option to recall the 20-year-old in January.