West Brom handed double injury boost ahead of Leeds United showdown with key winger fighting to be fit

West Bromwich Albion have been handed a double injury boost ahead of the New Year's Day showdown with Leeds United while they wait on the fitness of wide man Grady Diangana.

Slaven Bilic's side welcome the Whites to the Hawthorns for a top of the table clash with the two teams separated at the summit of the Championship on goal difference alone.

United and Albion have both claimed 51 points from the opening 25 games of the season with Marcelo Bielsa's outfit leading the way.

The Baggies, though, have been handed some good news ahead of the showdown against Leeds with two players back in contention for the game.

Ex-Whites defender Kyle Bartley and full-back Kieran Gibbs have been missing from action in recent weeks but will return while on-loan winger Grady Diangana is fighting to be fit with a back injury.

The Hammers wide man was initially believed to be ready to play against the Whites but boss Bilic revealed he had been back at his parent club for further assessment this week.

Bartley and Gibbs, though, are now expected to feature against United having recovered from injury setbacks and are in contention to be recalled into Bilic's starting line-up.

Albion's head coach also explained why influential midfielder Romaine Sawyers dropped to the bench for his sides 2-0 defeat against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

“We are trying to manage the team," he admitted following a busy festive period.

"We are talking to the players and we have their data.

"They are not machines, they are not robots and a few of them needed a rest but we made very few changes and that tells you how we approached this game, not thinking about Leeds but thinking about this game.”