West Brom defender Darnell Furlong is available for The Baggies' Championship meeting with Reading this weekend, journalist Lewis Cox has confirmed.

The Lowdown: First game without Bruce

On Saturday afternoon, West Brom face their first fixture without Steve Bruce after the Englishman was sacked at the beginning of the week, as Reading head to the Hawthorns.

A new manager is yet to be appointed but victory is essential for the Baggies, considering they are currently wallowing in 22nd place in the Championship.

There have been injury issues of late but their problems appear to be easing at a much-needed time.

The Latest: Darnell available for clash

Taking to Twitter, Cox confirmed that Furlong is fit and has only been absent for tactical reasons recently, joining Grady Diangana and Brandon Thomas-Asante in being available:

"Grady Diangana and Brandon Thomas-Asante fine for Reading tomorrow. Darnell Furlong also fit, was selection that saw him left out of last two."

The Verdict: Could he start?

Stand-in manager Richard Beale has a big job on his hands this weekend, hopefully steering West Brom to victory, but it will be interesting to see if he brings Furlong straight back into the team.

His last start came in the 3-2 defeat at home to Swansea City at the start of October and he hasn't won a match in which he has featured since August, which doesn't reflect kindly on him.

Bruce went with a back-three in last weekend's 0-0 draw with Luton Town, using Matt Phillips as a wing-back and leaving Furlong out of the squad altogether, so Beale could bring him back in against Reading, and potentially give him another chance to impress.