Influential West Bromwich Albion forward Grady Diangana has been ruled out of the top-of-the-table New Year's Day clash against Leeds United .
West Ham loanee Diangana has been one of the Baggies' standout performers this season, but is still 'two or three proper sessions' from returning after he sustained a back problem at Birmingham City, according to Slaven Bilic.
Joining him on the sidelines will be full-back Nathan Ferguson, with Bilic revealing the England under-20 star is suffering from a 'small knee problem', during a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
Ferguson will spend a couple of weeks out, but there was better news for Bilic in that Kieran Gibbs is available against after he sat out the defeat to Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Diangana has scored five goals and registered five assists from his 16 Championship starts this term, leading to speculation that his parent club West Ham may recall him.
Ferguson meanwhile has turned out 20 times in the league so far this season and has been mooted as a potential transfer target for several Premier League clubs.
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa will again be without injured duo Pablo Hernandez and Adam Forshaw, while he will be hoping that Patrick Bamford will have shaken off the dead leg which saw him miss out at Birmingham City last time out.
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