TONY MOWBRAY is hoping Edouard Michut will be available for Sunderland’s weekend trip to West Brom, although he admits the midfielder is struggling with the back problem that kept him out of last night’s draw with Huddersfield.

Michut was omitted from the squad as Sunderland played out a 1-1 draw with the Terriers, with the result denting the Black Cats’ hopes of finishing in a play-off place.

To have any chance of forcing their way into the top six, Mowbray’s side will surely have to win at West Brom on Sunday lunchtime, and the Black Cats boss is hoping Michut’s back issue will have improved sufficiently for him to feature at the Hawthorns.

Mowbray said: “I don’t think it’s too serious. He’s had a scan on his back. It didn’t show very much, and yet he’s the one who has to try to train and feel the pain.

“He’s obviously got a bit of damage there, so it’s a question of whether he can play through that or not. We’ll see over the next few days whether he trains or not.”

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Sunderland’s medical staff will also be assessing Danny Batth in the next couple of days, with the centre-half having suffered a knock that forced him off in the closing stages of last night’s game.

Mowbray said: “I don’t know how bad he (Batth) is. I had a ten or 15-minute chat with the lads in the dressing room after the game, and Danny was sitting there with a bit of ice.

“I don’t know how bad it is. We’re back in (on Wednesday) and everybody will be assessed. Then, we’ll see who’s fit and available and we’ll prepare for the weekend against West Brom.”