West Brom defenders Ajayi, Bartley & McNair out for weeks

Semi Ajayi has been part of an Albion defence who have conceded just seven goals in their opening 12 league games

West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan expects Semi Ajayi to be out for around four months following surgery on a hamstring injury.

As well as Nigeria international Ajayi, Corberan has also lost fellow defenders Kyle Bartley and on-loan Paddy McNair.

McNair went off with a hamstring injury just four minutes into Saturday's 0-0 home Championship draw with Cardiff City and is now expected to be out for eight weeks, while vice-captain Bartley will miss between four and six weeks with a knee problem.

Summer signing Torbjorn Heggem, who was brought in primarily as a centre-back, has so far been used at left-back.

But he shuffled across to deputise for McNair in the centre of defence against Cardiff and is expected to remain there for Friday night's trip to Luton as faltering Albion look to end their winless run - now up to six matches - against the struggling Hatters.

“We're talking about three specific centre-backs who have had injuries at the same time, all within a week," Corberan told BBC Radio WM. "It will be a challenge for us."

To add to Corberan's injury woes, USA international striker Daryl Dike has had his return pushed back to next year after sustaining a muscle injury, having been out since February with an Achilles tendon problem.

It is particuarly bad timing that Albion have suffered this triple blow just as they are set to face Luton.

The Hatters have, arguably, the most potent twin strikeforce in the division in Elijah Adebayo and Carlton Morris. The pair have netted 57 goals between them since first linking up for Luton in August 2022 and fired their club to promotion to the Premier League for the first time two seasons ago.

Corberan does have other potential cover options in two more summer signings - Gianluca Frabotta and Everton loan signing Mason Holgate, who made his first appearance since arriving on deadline day with an 11-minute cameo from the bench against Cardiff.

But 6ft 3in Norwegian Heggem, who has become a fans' favourite having started all 12 league games at left-back, is the one expected to get the nod to counter the aerial threat of Morris and ex-Walsall striker Adebayo.

Torbjørn Heggem has only made 12 Championship starts for West Bromwich Albion - but already has his own chant among the Baggies fans

"We still have players like Heggem, who has played at left-back at an amazing level and can find his level too as a centre-back," said Corberan.

"He has played there before, which is one of the reasons why we brought him in. [Mason] Holgate is another, similar to Heggem, who can manage these positions.

"There are players who can allow me to keep playing with a back four or find an alternative.

"Within a line of five, you have players like Ousmane Diakite, who hasn't played as a centre-back in his career but, we think, can adapt.

"[Gianluca] Frabotta is a pure left-back or wing-back but we are developing some of his skills as one of three centre-backs."

Carlos Corberan was talking to BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon