Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma is likely to miss his country’s next African Nations qualifier.

Mali coach Mohammed Magassouba has revealed a problem with Bissouma’s paperwork led to him being left out of the squad to play on Saturday in Gabon.

Magassouba said Bissouma cannot travel without his UK residence permit, which is missing.

“At the airport, Yves lost his residence card,” Magassouba told a news conference in Bamako.

“When you lose such a document, you may need to bring together lawyers to find another one because you have to recognise that Europe is different from here.

“Yves is in this process for now. Nevertheless, he is ready to join the team itself as a substitute player. He swore to me hand on the heart.”

Bissouma’s absence might be a blessing in disguise for Albion.

They are likely to need him fit and firing at home to Leicester a week on Saturday as fellow midfielder Dale Stephens starts a three-game ban.

Bissouma, Gross and Propper all trained with the Albion squad at their Lancing base this morning.