Vicente is closing in on his first start for Albion since October.

The injury-plagued Spanish star is in the frame for tomorrow’s trip to Leeds after coming through training unscathed.

Vicente made a key impact as a substitute in last Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Leicester, setting up Will Buckley’s late winner.

That was his first appearance for nearly four months and, with midfielder Matt Sparrow starting a three-match suspension at Elland Road, boss Gus Poyet is weighing up whether the former Valencia playmaker is ready for 90 minutes.

Poyet said: “He’s trained all week again, which is fantastic. I know it’s been hard for him. Sometimes when you have been out for so long too many things go through your head, because you just want to get back and play football.

“That is why he chose us ahead of other clubs all over the world, because he wanted to play football. That has not been possible for months, so I am sure he has been really hurting inside.

“He was on the bench, he played a key role in the winning team, he has trained the whole week again, which is great for us because he is our best player in terms of quality.

“He has played at the highest level, a Champions League final, so if we can have him for 90 minutes every game it’s going to be amazing for the team.”

Albion are on the brink of announcing a new full-time doctor, who has already begun to help Vicente with his succession of injury problems.

Poyet added: “He (Vicente) is going to be available for Saturday and we are going to use him the best way we can, knowing the risk. That is something we are managing now with the fitness department but especially with the new doctor.

“I want the best players on the pitch. If we have the chance to play the best players we are going to have a better team, because of the way we play and why they are here and what they do.”

Meanwhile, Albion have refused to comment on reports that 19-year-old Manchester City midfielder Abdul Razak will join them on loan later this month, once Yaya Toure has returned from playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ivorian Razak had a spell on loan at Portsmouth earlier this season and has featured as a sub for City’s first team.

The Argus revealed last Saturday that Poyet is targeting a Premier League midfielder on loan for the rest of the season.

Albion’s development squad beat Cambridge United 1-0 in a hastily arranged friendly on an artificial pitch at the London Soccerdome yesterday with a first-half penalty earned and converted by George Barker.