Albion winger Seb Carole could be fit for Saturday's trip to Championship leaders Reading, dispelling fears of a lengthy lay-off for the influential Frenchman.

Carole was involved in serious injury scare towards the end of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Watford.

He had to be stretchered off after a tackle by Watford captain Gavin Mahon and limped away from Vicarage Road with the lower half of his left leg in a protective casing.

The initial diagnosis, a twisted ankle, has been confirmed and physio Malcolm Stuart is optimistic the former Monaco wide man will recover in time to make the visit to the Madejski Stadium.

Manager Mark McGhee revealed: "Malcolm seems to think he can get him fit by Saturday. Seb has become a very important part of our team, so it is really critical he is available if we are going to have any chance of getting a result."

Meanwhile, Guy Butters has thanked Alan Blayney for making his first goal of the season count with a second penalty save in successive games at Watford.

Butters nodded Albion level in the second half, then was controversially penalised for handling Clarke Carlisle's header inside the area. Blayney followed up his spot-kick stop from Derby's Inigo Idiakez by foiling Marlon King, who had earlier put fourth-placed Watford ahead.

Butters said: "I was disappointed about the penalty because the ball hit me on the nose and on the arm after that. There wasn't much I could do about it. Alan pulled off a great save, so it's all thanks to him."

Blayney denied Idiakez in the 0-0 draw against Derby at Withdean nine days ago after goalkeeping coach John Keeley advised him which way to dive.

"It actually was a bit of research again," revealed the Northern Irishman on loan from Southampton. "John told me that he (King) normally hits them to the left, so I took his word for it, went that way and saved it."

Albion's eighth draw out of 11 away in the Championship and 13th in total edged them up a place to third-bottom, above Crewe on goal difference, two points clear of Millwall and one behind Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth.

"You take heart from moving up the table," Blayney said. "Most of the games we have drawn we've had chances to go on and win them. As I've said before, we just need to score more goals.

"In the first half we were the better team by far. After that I thought we defended really well. They had a couple of chances but nothing major."