Albion face the prospect of facing multi-thousand pound Cagliari in the final match of the Anglo -Italian tournament tonight  without three of their star players.

On the telephone from their luxury holiday resort in Sardinia, manager Alan Ashman told me: "Asa Hartford and Bobby Hope are out of the reckoning and I've got a doubt about the fitness of Jeff Astle."

Hope has a strained thigh which has cost him his place in the Scottish international party and Hartford is suffering from a sore mouth after bieing involved in a incident during Tuesday's game against Inter-Milan.

Astle is suffering from a strained groin and although the player himself hopes to be available manager Ashman said: "He must be regarded as doubtful and I shall not be making a decision until later in the day."

This means Albion's party of players has been reduced to 13 and it may be that Graham Williams, who began his new task as Assistant Manager on Tuesday, will have to return to the playing ranks temporarily.

 Ashman said "Graham is still registered as a player for this tornament and he may well have to make himself available as a substitute at least."

Teenage left winger Hughie MacLean will probably be drafted into the team... and Alastair Robertson may make his first senior appearance since breaking his leg early last season.

Ashman said: "It will certainly be a baptism of fire for the young players."

Cagliari, who looked the more impressive of the two Ialian teams Albion have met, scored a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace earlier in the week when Luigi Riva scored both goals. Said Ashman: "There are a lot of English people on holiday in this area and they will probably come along to support us. We hope to hive them something to cheer about."

Ashman did not envisage any trouble following the injury to Riva in the Hawthorns game last week. "I think eveyone accepts that it was purely accidental and we do not expect any reprisals."