Albion head coach Graham Potter believes that the Premier League need to make a decision of whether they are going to use the five-substitute rule for the remainder of the season.

The amendment was used in the top flight during Project Restart last term.

However, the Premier League announced before the start of the season that they would return to three substitutes this season.

With the numbers of injuries that have been picked up by some sides with the hectic schedule this season, plus positive coronavirus tests forcing players to miss out on at least two games due to self-isolating, some squads are being stretched.

The EFL have announced that they would be using the five-substitute rule from this weekend.

That has now increased the pressure on the Premier League to follow suit and Potter would be all for a re-introduction.

He said: “I was in favour of it after Project Restart and in favour of it at the start of this season.

“I thought this season would be quite unprecedented in terms of we were going to lose a lot of time in the calendar.

“So, the games would be crammed in, plus you then put in international fixtures and then the possibility Covid is still around.

“You are going to get more positive tests, it just made sense to me to keep the five subs for that reason.

“It just lightens the load a bit and gives a bit of help towards the players that was my thought at the time.”

He added: “Nothing has really changed, if it is the right thing to do then it can be changed if that is the general consensus because hopefully the crowds are going to come back this season, which will change things.

“Ultimately we are in a place where things will not be ideal, there is going to be a change in the situation throughout the season, so I think you can adapt to that.”

Despite Potter liking the ideas of the five-substitution rule, he believes the top flight should be able to deal with injuries and positive coronavirus tests.

He said: “We have just got to be careful from a footballing perspective, although I understand that there are injuries, fatigue and lots of games.

“Again, we are in the middle of a pandemic there are people on furlough, there are people losing their jobs, people suffering in all areas.

“With the money involved in the Premier League, we should be able to assemble squads big enough to deal with the fixture list, even though they are very complicated.”

Potter also believes that a decision need to be reached quickly.

“I think all my colleagues are concerned with player welfare, it would be unfair to say anything else.

“As the season goes on and as things change in terms of you can see the injuries, you can see how close the games are the European fixtures.

“I think people cannot deny they had their own priority with their own players and their own club, which is normal.

“It is difficult to ask head coaches to make those collective decisions.

“But the quicker is it a collective decision the better.

”Times are hard outside of football. I don’t think it’s healthy for us to be debating this for too long. Let’s find a collective solution quickly and get on with it as best we can.”

Like Potter, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard believes players’ welfare is key.

He said: “I think it is something we have to address again with the clubs. The circumstances have not changed since we had five subs for the restart.

“The reason that maybe managers aren’t making three subs is as if you have ten players fearful of tiredness, there is a danger zone to make a third substitute in case of an injury.

“My main concern is player welfare. They are under stress, especially those playing in Europe.

“I don’t want anyone to cry their eyes out for players, we all know how lucky we are, but everywhere else has five subs so we have to revisit this in my opinion.”