West Brom are set to be without an integral member of their squad...

What's the latest?

According to Sam Allardyce, via the Express & Star, Baggies midfielder Robert Snodgrass is expected to be out for the next seven to ten days, meaning he could well miss their crucial encounter with Leicester City next Thursday.

"Robert has had an epidural – it will probably be seven to 10 days before he is back in action,” Big Sam explained.

It's hard to imagine him being fit enough to return in a weeks time, so this will come as a huge blow to Albion.

Bad news for Big Sam

Snodgrass may have not featured in the starting XI in recent outings, that in part surely being down to this long-term issue, but he's a very important character in the dressing room and that will be needed if West Brom are to stand a chance at survival.

Despite notching impressive back-to-back victories, the Baggies still find themselves eight points adrift of safety, with only seven games left to play.

The versatile 33-year-old midfielder has featured eight times since joining on a permanent deal from West Ham United but has not started a match for the Midlands side since the 1-1 draw to Manchester United.

Upon arrival at the Hawthorns, many were quick to praise the veteran Scotsman, such as former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who claimed Snodgrass is "a huge character in the dressing room," whilst his former Villa coach Colin Calderwood lauded him a "team player."

Not having him around on a matchday, especially in the upcoming derby where both teams need a big result, will come as hugely disappointing news to Allardyce.

It can be argued that his presence on the pitch has not been missed, as they have won successive matches for the first time without him in the starting XI but there is a case to be made over him starting, as he's often an industrious presence and one that can play through the middle or out wide.

His 2.1 tackles per game are only matched - or bettered -by the Baggies' three loan stars, for example.

Either way, not having Snodgrass available next week will come as a major blow.

AND in other news, Allardyce played a blinder over big West Brom omission vs Saints...