Brunt hopes to win fitness battle

West Brom skipper Chris Brunt hopes Northern Ireland's friendly with Finland on Wednesday will aid his chances of being fit for the start of the new Barclays Premier League campaign.

Brunt has been sidelined for the majority of the summer with a calf strain which initially flared up during a visit to Belfast. He had to return early from Albion's trip to Sweden and only made his comeback on Friday evening as a substitute against Nottingham Forest.

"Internationals at this stage are never good timing but, from my point of view, having missed virtually every friendly, it will be good to get some minutes under my belt," said Brunt.

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