Albion have completed the loan signing of Ali Al-Habsi from Wigan following a freak injury to No.1 David Stockdale.

Al-Habsi has been snapped up for 28 days and goes straight into the side at Bournemouth tomorrow after Stockdale broke a finger in training.

Boss Sami Hyypia told The Argus: "In training he (Stockdale) had a shot, he saved it and it bounced from the post onto the end of his finger. You never know when these things happen and you can't do much to prevent them.

"That's part of the business and you need to be able to cope with the situation. David said he would still like to play but there is too big a risk that it will be worse and then if he needs an operation we will miss him for three months. We can't take that kind of risk.

"He doesn't need an operation but the fracture is there so we decided to have a look if we could get somebody in while he is injured.

"Ali was available and I decided to take a good, experienced keeper for the time being.

"David will be three or four weeks at least and then we will assess the situation."

Christian Walton made an impressive debut in place of Stockdale in Wednesday's Capital One Cup exit at Spurs but Hyypia says an extended run would have been a "very different and more difficult situation" for the 18-year-old England under-20 international.

Walton will make his first home appearance against Wigan at the Amex next Tuesday as Al-Habsi cannot play against his parent club.

Meanwhile, Albion's first choice right-back Bruno (groin) is not expected to return to action until after the international break, ruling the Spaniard out against Bournemouth, Wigan and the visit of Blackburn on November 8.