Roland Bergkamp’s hopes of breaking into first team contention with Albion are being hampered by a persistent hamstring problem.

Little has been seen so far of the tall Dutch centre forward since his summer move to English football. Boss Gus Poyet revealed to The Argus: “He hasn’t trained for the last four or five weeks. He had a hamstring injury and he felt it again when he was coming back.

“He still has plenty of things to learn as well to be able to play with us.”

Meanwhile, Jamie Smith looks likely to leave the club in January when his short-term contract expires.

The diminutive midfielder featured in a 2-0 victory for the reserves at Bournemouth on Wednesday after failing so far to land a loan move.

Poyet said: "He has not been able to get a team on loan, so it's been difficult. He was very close to going to Leyton Orient but they didn't take him.

"Jamie was a revelation at the beginning of last season before we got Kazenga back. Then he was injured for months and we were established at the top of the table, so he didn't get the chance to play.

"I thought I would give him the chance to prove himself but it hasn't really happened for him."