da leao： Matt Clarke returning from injury sooner than expected is a sigh of relief, former West Brom midfielder Carlton Palmer has told Football FanCast.

da bet sport： Clarke had looked like he would be out for a while after straining his hamstring, but manager Valerien Ismael recently confirmed that the central defender could return earlier than anticipated.

The Frenchman has been handed some dilemmas at the back in this early stage of the season, with Dara O’Shea also currently out injured.

The 22-year-old has been ruled out of action for the next four to six months after fracturing his ankle while on international duty, making Clarke’s speedy recovery more than a welcome sight.

Asked by FFC if the news surrounding Clarke will come as a sigh of relief to Ismael following O’Shea’s serious injury, Palmer said:

“Yeah, it is because obviously the backbone of your side is always your defence and to have two key players missing from the start of the season, two key centre-backs… you don’t want them missing for a large chunk of the season.

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“That’s your backbone of anything, keeping clean sheets, not conceding goals – and to get good central defenders now is tough.”

West Brom were also without new signing Kean Bryan for their recent clash against Derby County, so the Baggies certainly are having a hard time at the back.