Albion are eager to keep hold of on-loan striker Jonathan Obika until April – but could have the decision taken out of their hands.

Obika’s 93-day loan from Tottenham ends on April 11, six matches before the end of the season with Spurs unwilling to let him stay at the Amex until the end of the campaign.

Tottenham are also entitled to recall him after the first 28 days of his loan, which falls later this week.

Obika was an unused substitute for the second game running in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Watford after opening his account for Albion on his full debut in the FA Cup win at Port Vale.

Jones, instrumental in the deal having worked with Obika at both Charlton and Yeovil, is keeping his fingers crossed for the Tottenham forward to remain with Albion for the full duration of his loan.

“I am hoping so, because he is important to us,” Jones said. “He didn’t feature at Watford but he will get plenty of minutes.

“He was a little bit disappointed that we couldn’t get him on but, with the early injury to Jake (Forster-Caskey), it meant we had to use one of the subs.