Bruno is on course for his first Albion derby – despite playing through pain against Bristol City.

The popular Spanish right-back has been troubled by a bruised rib first sustained in the win at Millwall in September.

He caused alarm among fans yesterday when he revealed via Facebook that he was struggling with a painful rib and “worried” about his participation at arch rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday.

But boss Gus Poyet has eased fears that his former Valencia man will miss what could be a fascinating tussle with Palace’s star widemen Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie.

Poyet said: “It was painful but he got through so I’m pleased for him.

“It was getting worse by the end of the game but he finished well.

“When you have got a knock you can be all right during the game but when you are tired afterwards you start suffering a bit.

“He was in pain for the last 15 minutes of the Bristol City game and I needed to ask him two or three times how he was before I made the last change.

“But he finished the game which means 99% he should recover today in time to play on Saturday.”

Bruno took an accidental back heel to the ribs at Millwall in a game which later saw him go off with a groin injury.

He only felt pain again when he landed on the same spot in the 1-1 draw with Bolton on Saturday.

The defender was still hurting on Tuesday but said: “I’ve got no problem playing with pain.”