STURR SHAKER

FROM BACK PAGE basement club, who are cut adrift – seven points from safety.

But Sturridge is not expected back “imminently” due to a hamstring problem earlier this month which originally ruled him out for just a fortnight.

It is another headache for Pardew going into Saturday’s crunch clash at Watford after five successive defeats and a disastrous training camp in Barcelona, where four senior pros broke a curfew and allegedly stole a taxi.

West Brom fought off competition from Newcastle to land Sturridge, 28, for a £1.5million loan fee and his £120,000-a-week wages. He limped off three minutes into Albion’s 3–0 defeat at Chelsea on February 12 and has played just 77 minutes for the club.