West Bromwich Albion No2 Keith Downing admits they're delighted with the return from injury of Claudio Yacob.

The Baggies' joint-assistant head coach believes Yacob, who has been involved in nine of the club's 12 wins this season, has got breaking up the opposition's play down to a fine art.

"Claudio is a players' player," said Downing to the Albion website.

"The players around him appreciate the role he does - and I think the crowd are knowledgeable about it as well.

"In the modern-day game, which features less tackles and robust stuff, there is an art to defending in terms of interceptions, reading the game and delaying attacks.

"Claudio's got all of that - but in Argentina that is a role they play.

"The 'No.5' position in Argentina is a specific role - the sitting midfielder - and throughout his education in his younger years he has developed that and learned how to sense danger.

"There is a definite art to it and he is very good at it."