Olivier Boscagli has been told he has a part to play in Albion’s busy next few weeks.
The experienced former PSV defender has played just 45 minutes of Premier League action since his summer switch.
They came in the first half against Brentford last Saturday, during which he was booked after being left exposed by Ferdi Kadioglu.
Albion have tracked Boscagli for several years and assured him throughout last season they would take him in the summer.
But his Prem career has not got going as Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke dominate playing time in central defence.
Perhaps inevitably, the first speculative claims of transfer interest in Boscagli emerged via social media this week, in the wake of his early exit against Brentford.
The January transfer market is now just five weeks away.
Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler told The Argus: “For sure, a player is not happy when he is subbed at half-time but, in the end, we have to take care.
“We don't want to risk a red card, so that's also what I said to him.
“And then there is competition regarding this position.
“Our skipper is doing well. JP is doing well and of course we still have Diego Coppola, so it's competition about this position.
“But Olly Boscagli, like I said, he's doing really well in training.
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“Also, regarding the game, I was happy how he performed and now we have plenty of games in the next phase, so we need every player.
“Everyone has to be ready and that's the message to everyone.”
Boscagli and Coppola were regulars in the three-game Carabao Cup run and the latter has come on as sub to help protect leads on three occasions - twice successfully - in the league.
