Alex Frutos declared himself ready and raring to go today for Albion's last-ditch bid to stay in the Championship.

The French left winger is desperate to play against Ipswich at Portman Road on Saturday after missing the last two matches with a damaged rib cartilage.

Frutos had a 54-minute outing for the Reserves at Crawley on Tuesday night.

The former Metz wide man said: "I felt good. I had a lot of running to do and crosses to put over.

"I think I will be fit for the weekend and I hope the gaffer puts me in the team, because we still have a little chance of staying up. We have to keep going for our own sakes and for the supporters and I want to be in the team for the last four games. The gaffer will decide, because the team won at Millwall but then lost to Southampton, but I'm fit and I am ready in my mind to play."

Frutos was kicked in the ribs during Albion's home draw against Luton last month.

The painful injury left him struggling for breath and he was nursed back to full health with the help of an osteopath.

Albion's other French winger, Seb Carole, is sweating on his place in the squad at Ipswich. Carole, out-of-sorts of late, disappointed when he came on in the second half against Southampton and was then dropped to the bench, along with Alexis Nicolas, after reporting late for Tuesday's 8-1 victory for the Reserves at the Broadfield Stadium.