​City made one change for today’s big Coca-Cola Championship clash against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Manager Gary Johnson had little choice but to leave out Costa Rica striker Alvaro Saborio after he arrived back later than expected from international duty.

Saborio was supposed to return from South America on Friday afternoon after featuring in Costa Rica’s World Cup play-off against Uruguay in Montevideo on Wednesday night. But Costa Rica officials instead booked him on a later flight and he arrived after the team coach had departed for the Midlands.

Saborio was driven to the Hawthorns by car, but Johnson decided to relegate him to the substitutes’ bench, recall big centre-back Jamie McCombe to the starting line-up and adopt a 3-5-2 formation.

Left wing-back Jamie McAllister recovered from a groin strain in time to play, while Johnson opted to pair the in-form Nicky Maynard and Danny Haynes in attack.

Second in the table behind Newcastle United and victorious in their last two outings, Albion remained unchanged.

Subs: Cech, Koren, Wood, Teixeira, Mulumbu, Martis, Kiely (gk)

Subs: Fontaine, Johnson, Clarkson, Saborio, Sproule, Williams, Basso (gk)

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)