Albion boss Gus Poyet is plotting a January swoop for a playmaker if Spanish star Vicente continues to be dogged by injury.

Vicente has been ruled out again of tomorrow’s home game against Burnley following a setback in his recovery.

A thigh problem and other niggles have restricted the former Valencia ace to just two starts and Poyet has conceded he may have to look elsewhere for attacking inspiration once the transfer window opens.

He revealed to The Argus: “We are on standby. I’ve had an opportunity a few times to bring in someone who can play not similar to Vicente, because we are not going to get so lucky to get another player like him, but in that position in the last third, something different.

“But every time that we were there looking it looked like he was coming back so we stopped. Then he didn’t and then you start again.

“Now we are in a better situation, because until January we cannot do anything so we’ve got time. We are on standby, seeing just in case.

“He is and he was a key player. That’s why we need to make sure we definitely get him properly fit. If not we are losing too much time and that’s something that is not good for anyone.”

Attacking midfielder Ryan Harley (hamstring) is back in contention for Burnley’s visit after he was overlooked for the 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

Poyet said: “He’s okay. He was available (last Saturday). I thought it was not the right time to take him. He’s trained all week.

“We’ve trained all week, an extra day more than normal, on Monday as well. I think that’s great for me. I like to have as much times as possible with the players on the pitch.”