Albion could look to Alexis Mac Allister to hold the central midfield fort against the European champions.

The in-form Argentinean is a candidate for a key role in the engine room at home to Chelsea.

Albion have lost Yves Bissouma to Afcon and Enock Mwepu to injury while it appears very unlikely that Adam Lallana will be available.

Mac Allister enjoys a central role but those skills have generally been employed in attacking areas during his time with Albion.

He was usually playing wide on the left and cutting in on his right foot during his time on loan at Boca Juniors.

However, he has also shown an appetite for a midfield battle.

Now he would appear a strong candidate for such a role against Chelsea.

Albion head coach Graham Potter told The Argus: “I think he has always been that type of player because he has got a really good understanding of the game.

“He has played as a ten previously and he has played as a six, even in Argentina.

“He has got that capacity to do that.

“Then it’s just like anything.

“As he is settling more and more and he is more and more comfortable with us, he can play in those positions.

“I thought he did really well against Crystal Palace.

“He defended well against (Conor) Gallagher, who is obviously a really good player.

“He is someone who can step into that situation, definitely.”

Lallana was not being ruled out for definite as Potter spoke to the media yesterday.

But the chances of him facing Chelsea looked slim.

Potter said: “We are just getting to the bottom of his hamstring (injury) but it looks like he is going to be missing for Chelsea.”

Bissouma stole the show when Albion gave Chelsea a major test less than three weeks ago.

But Lallana has done a good job ahead of the centre-backs in recent outings.

Potter said: “It is always disappointing when we lose a player.

“I don’t think it will be serious to be honest.

“It will keep him out of this one and maybe for the weekend (away to Leicester on Sunday), we will see.

“When you play Chelsea, in that area of the pitch, it is so hard to control and do that.

“He will be a miss for that but it will be a chance for others to come in and take that chance.

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“All year we have had players missing, key players.

“Danny (Welbeck), Lewis (Dunk) Adam Webster, Yves Bissouma - and we have managed to find ways and that is credit to the guys.

“You cannot be successful with eleven.

“You have to have a group that is ready to fight. Whichever XI plays, we will have that.”