Kazenga LuaLua is on course to give Albion an injury boost by resuming training during the international break.

Boss Chris Hughton hopes to have the explosive left-winger out of the treatment room and back in light training next week.

LuaLua, pictured below, missed the last two draws at Bolton and against Cardiff at the Amex on Saturday with groin damage.

Hughton said: “He’s doing okay. The international break will help. We are quite optimistic it won’t be too much longer.

“We’ll look over this two weeks to get him involved in training, maybe the following week, certainly not this week, and see where we are once we get to the Leeds and Bristol games.

“We’re hoping it might be some time around then.”

Championship leaders Albion return to action at Leeds on October 17 and host Bristol City at the Amex three days later.

LuaLua’s initial replacement, Jamie Murphy, remains suspended for both games following his controversial red card at Bolton.

Solly March’s eye-catching second half performance deputising on the left-wing against Cardiff will reduce the temptation to hurry back the influential LuaLua, who scored four goals in his first seven appearances of the season.

Hughton could have LuaLua, Murphy and March all available for Preston’s visit on October 24, providing the latter comes safely through international duty with England under-21s in company with club colleagues Jake Forster-Caskey and Christian Walton.