Albion marksman Craig Mackail-Smith is on course to spearhead the attack again at Bristol City on Saturday after an injury scare.

But boss Gus Poyet is still weighing up whether to move into the loan market for an extra striker, with continuing doubts over the availability of Will Hoskins.

Mackail-Smith was sent back to the Seagulls by Scotland with a back complaint which ruled him out of the Euro 2012 qualifiers against the Czech Republic on Saturday and Lithuania tonight.

Poyet said: “It was a precaution originally for Saturday, then he was sent back when they knew there was no chance of him recovering for Tuesday.

“It’s not a muscle but his back is really stiff. I think by Wednesday or Thursday he is going to be all right to train with us, if it doesn’t get worse.”

A recurring abductor muscle injury has limited Hoskins to one brief goalscoring appearance as a substitute at Cardiff since his summer move from Bristol Rovers.

Poyet said: “It was getting better and then he felt a little bit uncomfortable. Now it is getting better again but there is no date when we can confirm he will be back.”

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