West Bromwich Albion defender Craig Dawson will miss up to eight weeks of action but does not require surgery for a knee injury sustained in the team's 1-0 loss at Southampton last week, the club said on Thursday. The 27-year-old was substituted two minutes from time at St Mary's Stadium with manager Tony Pulis and the club's doctors fearing that he may have suffered cruciate ligament damage. However, scans revealed that Dawson's injury was not as serious as initially feared but the versatile player would be out until the busy Christmas period. "The injury gave Craig a serious thigh muscle bleed and a torn knee capsule," West Brom's director of performance Mark Gillett told the club's website on Thursday (www.wba.co.uk). "It's a serious injury but we are heartened that it's already showing an improvement and surgery is not required." Defender Jonny Evans (groin) and midfielder Gareth Barry (back strain) were also set to undergo scans this week after sustaining injuries in the defeat by Southampton. Dawson has started all of 13th-placed West Brom's nine games this season. The club is winless in seven league games and host table-toppers Manchester City on Saturday. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
