Shane Duffy will miss at least Albion’s next SEVEN matches – if initial indications as to his term of absence are correct.

Boss Chris Hughton today revealed the centre-back fractured a metatarsal in the defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Duffy is undergoing surgery and Hughton expects him to probably be out for a minimum of six weeks.

Albion host Wigan on Easter Monday – which is six weeks from today.

They are making plans to visit rock bottom Rotherham tomorrow.

But they will also have to cope without Duffy’s towering presence at home to Derby, Blackburn and Birmingham and away to Leeds, QPR and Wolves if initial predictions prove correct.

That would leave him facing a race to get back for the Wigan clash.

Albion would then have three more matches to play before the end of the league season, away to Norwich and Aston Villa and at home to Bristol City.

Duffy will also miss two Republic of Ireland fixtures later this month, at home to Wales in a World Cup qualifier and at home to Iceland in a friendly.