Blackpool v West Brom: Build-up, team news and live match updates

The players are back in the dressing room and should be emerging for kick-off shortly.

Plenty of home fans appear to be leaving it late making their way to their seats. It should be another great atmosphere under the lights though.

The big news is the return of a certain CJ Hamilton, who has been registered in the squad in time to be named among the substitutes.

The winger, who last appeared for the Seasiders at the end of August, is now back fit after recovering from his second foot operation of the year.

Critchley makes four changes to his side in total, bringing Kenny Dougall back into the fold alongside Josh Bowler, Shayne Lavery and Gary Madine.

Dujon Sterling, Callum Connolly, Demetri Mitchell and Jerry Yates are the four players to make way. In Mitchell’s case, he drops out of the squad altogether.

Chris Maxwell (torn quad), Richard Keogh (calf), Luke Garbutt (knee), Kevin Stewart (ankle), Matty Virtue (ACL) and Grant Ward (achilles) all remain sidelined.

The changes see Pool revert back to a back four, having moved to a back three in South Wales on Saturday to counteract Swansea.

Third-placed West Brom, who are looking to avoid a fifth straight away loss, make two changes from their 1-0 weekend defeat to Huddersfield Town.

You’d imagine there will be changes made tonight, but then again, there always is.

West Brom are a tall, physical side, so I’m expecting Gary Madine to come back into the fold after not featuring at Swansea on Saturday during what was a more technical, passing affair.

Will Kenny Dougall return to the midfield? Will Daniel Gretarsson finally make a league appearance? Will Critchley stick to three at the back or revert to four?

We’ll find out at 6.45pm, when the teams are announced.

“It’s a great prospect.

“I was only driving in on Monday morning and thinking back to less than 12 months ago in January when we played them in the FA Cup at Bloomfield Road with no supporters.

“They were in the Premier League at the time and we were in League One. Less than 12 months later we’re meeting them in a competitive league game, so things can change very quickly in football.

“We’re under no illusions to how difficult the game is, we’ve watched them play so we know how good they are.

“I’ve watched them numerous times this season and they’re a good team with very good players.

“Just coming out of the Premier League, they will have aspirations of going straight back up.

“They’ve got a big squad of players and physically they’re very good. It’s a tough game but what a great challenge.

“Under the lights on a Tuesday night, hopefully it will be a great atmosphere and similar to the Stoke and QPR games, it’s great to have big clubs coming to our place and it’s up to us to put on a good performance.”

Richard Keogh is unlikely to be fit for tonight’s clash.

It was hoped the defender would return to training this week and possibly feature against the Baggies, despite missing the weekend draw against Swansea City.

But head coach Neil Critchley revealed the 35-year-old, who is nursing a calf strain, still has some work to do.

Elsewhere, the Seasiders are likely to have a similar pool of players to choose from as they did for Saturday’s 1-1 draw in South Wales.

Chris Maxwell (torn quad) and CJ Hamilton (foot) are both close to making a return, but the likes of Luke Garbutt (knee), Kevin Stewart (ankle), Matty Virtue (ACL) and Grant Ward (achilles) all remain sidelined.

It’s a quick turnaround for the Seasiders as they return to action at Bloomfield Road tonight after their weekend draw against Swansea City.

Neil Critchley’s men take on a West Bromwich Albion side that sit in third place in the Championship table.

Valerien Ismael’s side have stalled a little in recent weeks though and slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town on Saturday - their fourth straight away loss on the spin.

In fact, the Baggies haven’t tasted success on the road since September.

A win for the Seasiders, meanwhile, would close the gap on the Championship play-offs, which currently stands at three points.