Albion target Darwin Nunez is a surprise inclusion in Benfica’s squad to play Gil Vicente today.

He returns to the group three months after a knee operation.

Boss Jorge Jesus could use him as centre-forward or on the left of the attack in a 3-4-3 set-up as the Lisbon club tackle their third game of the league season.

His return to contention for a place comes earlier than first expected as Benfica prepare to sell another of their forward players.

German striker Luca Waldschmidt was pulled out of the trip north as talks progressed over his sale to Wolfsburg for €12m.

Albion have maintained an interest in Nunez since last summer.

But leading Portuguese sports daily A Bola today reported they have “failed to convince” Benfica with two bids and he will be staying unless €40m is offered.

THIS IS WHERE TARIQ LAMPTEY IS NOW AS HE RETURNS TO TRAINING

Jesus said: “We are in the market. Fortunately we have players other clubs want. Waldschmidt? There are sporting reasons linked to financial reasons.”