West Brom head coach Tony Pulis has confirmed goalkeeper Ben Foster has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury and could be sidelined until Christmas.

The 32-year-old England international went under the knife in March and had been expected to be challenging for a return by October, however, Pulis says that that date has now been pushed back.

He said ahead of a visit from Everton on Monday evening: “It’ll be Christmas time I think. We’ve got to make sure we’re careful.

“He had a little setback which pushed him back a little bit. He’s up and running again now, so fingers crossed he’ll be ready to go before Christmas.”

In the continuing absence of Foster, the Baggies have kept three consecutive clean sheets in their last three Premier League games, which have seen them defeat both Stoke City and Aston Villa 1-0 and draw 0-0 at home to Southampton.

Albion are 3.10 to keep another clean sheet against the Toffees at The Hawthorns on Monday, with both teams to score available at 1.91.

Former Wales international Boaz Myhill is the man who has been unbeatable in the last few games, while Pulis took no chances before the transfer window shut by bringing in former Manchester United gloveman Anders Lindegaard as further cover.

And it was the Danish keeper who was handed his Baggies bow in midweek when their defence was breached three times as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat away to Norwich City in the third round of the Capital One Cup.