Missing Maja a massive blow - Brunt

Chris Brunt and his caretaker team face Stoke City on Saturday for what they expect to be their final game in charge

West Bromwich Albion interim head coach Chris Brunt said that being without top scorer Josh Maja for Saturday's home date with Stoke City is a "massive" loss.

Managerless Albion take on Mark Robins' improving Potters in what is expected to be the final game before the expected reappointment of Tony Mowbray as Baggies boss - and they will be at a disadvantage without the man who has netted 12 of their 32 league goals this season.

"It's not just his goals, it's his overall play too," Brunt told BBC Radio WM. "After missing last year with two bad ankle injuries, he's been in great for us this season.

"It's been well documented that we haven't scored enough goals this season anyway, and to be without him now is a massive blow. But we just need people to chip in."

Brunt also played down the notion that they might now have the option of US international Daryl Dike, who has now been out almost a year after a second ruptured Achilles tendon in 10 months.

But he is still only training sporadically - and Brunt warned: "Daryl has had a rough couple of seasons, so we won't be rushing him back. We have to make sure he's all right."

This time next week Brunt is not expected to be the senior figure on the Baggies bench, but to have passed over the baton to Mowbray, the man who brought him to The Hawthorns back in June 2007.

However, he is pleased with the job that he, Boaz Myhill and Damia Abella have done - especially in the wake of former Swiss international Raphael Wicky turning down the job.

"It's been strange," Brunt said. "We thought it was all sorted at the start of the week and then suddenly it wasn't. But we've picked it up and rolled with it. And, bar the first 45 minutes in that first game on Boxing Day at Derby, everybody's been great - and the lads have responded well."