ALBION skipper Bruno has eased the biggest injury crisis of Chris Hughton’s managerial career.

The 36-year-old Spaniard is fit to face Leeds United at Elland Road tomorrow (5.30) after shrugging off a groin injury which forced him off against Derby County at the Amex a week ago.

Hughton told The Argus: “It’s a big relief for us. He’s a big player for us.

“He’s our captain. He is also a player with (Fikayo) Tomori who can, if we needed him to, fill in at centre-half as he did earlier in the season. With the problems we’ve had at the back, it’s a really pleasing one for us.”

SIX of Albion’s 12 first team squad defenders are sidelined.

Connor Goldson is out for the season with a heart condition, fellow centre-half Shane Duffy until April with a foot fracture.

First choice left-back Gaetan Bong, missing since early January with a knee injury, could resume training next week.

His deputy, Seb Pocognoli on loan from West Brom, is ruled out again tomorrow by a groin injury but is expected to be back after the international break against Blackburn Rovers at the Amex on April 1.

Another left-back, Sam Adekugbe, has suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury, while right-back Rob Hunt has also been hit by a hamstring problem on loan to Oldham.

Of the six defenders available to Hughton, Liam Rosenior is a fortnight into his return from six months out with a broken ankle and recent Norwegian centre-half signing Vegard Forren is not fit enough yet to be considered.

Hughton said: “You are always going to go through injury periods. Of course, as a manager I’ve gone through periods where you’ve had no injuries at all but also periods with a lot of injuries.

“I’ve probably not had one I can remember with so many in a specific area of the pitch.”

A third straight win would lift Albion to 80 points with eight games to go, nine short of last season’s total when they were pipped by Middlesbrough for the second automatic promotion spot.

They have already exceeded their tallies in 2012-13 and 2013-14, when they reached the play-offs.