Greening is injured

Three words I've never before linked together.

Albion's skipper has, believe it or not, never before been injured.

Definitely not in his Baggies career and, according to him, not once during his 14-year career.

That takes some doing.

Jono has split opinion this season.

He has lacked consistency and the energy of last season and, to some degree, has had less influence on games.

But Greening will be missed. The 30-year-old never shirks responsibility. If a defender needs an 'out' then Jono is there, willing to take the ball and carry it onwards. He never hides,

His critics accuse him of playing too many square balls. On the contrary, maintaining possession of the ball is imperative at top flight level.

Others claim he isn't a natural captain. But that misses the point. Jono is a popular, charismatic member of Albion's dressing room. He may not have the bombastic chest thumping approach of previous skippers like Robinson or Gregan, or bite the legs of opponents like McInnes used to, but Greening brings subtlety, calm and stability to the midfield.

To ask him to do those other things wouldn't work. And Albion didn't half miss him when he went off on Saturday.

My one stand-out Jono moment - apart from the numerous gaffes, comments and jokes - was his post-match interview after Albion's defeat to Derby in the Play Off Final.

While some of his team-mates had openly expressed a desire to leave, or skirted around the subject and, in one or two cases, simply lied through their teeth, Jono seemed to take umbrage at the suggestion that he would go. He's happy and settled. He's never once expressed a desire to move on. Loyatly should never be understated.

He made the right choice. I don't think any player has improved more under Tony Mowbray's leadership. And when you see hear the Albion boss and his fellow team-mates talk about how much they will miss Jono then you know they are not bluffing or merely churning out a quote for the press.

So what next for Albion's midfield? Well it opens the door for Borja Valero to be given a bigger role and maybe Robert Koren, who will be watched by the Slovenian national coach against Manchester United tonight, being moved back into the centre. Koren, by the way, isn't going anywhere. Roy Hodgson is no doubt well read about Koren - he knows him from his days in Norway - but Albion won't be letting him go to Fulham or any other team.

The Baggies are still looking at Youssouf Mulumbu, although he hasn't arrived for a trial (yet) as he's been telling people. PSG had not, at the time of writing this, agreed to anything.

Then there's Christian Obodo, a major name on Albion's list. Udinese seem unwilling to loan him out at the moment so that one is looking less likely. Shame as his pedigree is impressive.

Albion are talking to a number of clubs regarding a midfielder so things may yet happen on that score.

It's going to be a busy few days.