Captain Garry Monk is set to make his first appearance of the season against the Baggies having sat out the first four games of the campaign due to numbness in his foot. The 32-year-old's return is a timely boost for manager Brendan Rodgers, with Monk and Williams his only available centre-halves. Alan Tate (broken leg) and Steven Caulker (knee) are beginning spells on the sidelines while midfielder Kemy Agustien, who had been considered as potential defensive cover, is out for up to six weeks with a hamstring problem. Swansea have also been denied the chance to field deadline day signings Darnel Situ and Rafik Halliche, after FIFA denied international clearance for the moves due to minor delays in processing the transfers. Wales international Williams, 27, has led the side in Monk's absence, and admits they are blows the Premier League newboys could do without. He said: "They (Situ and Halliche) were brought in for back up and at times like this you need them. I don't know what went on with the deals as I was away with Wales at the time, but it means we are down to the minimum at centre-half. "But we have to get on with it and hopefully Monks and myself can stay fit until the guys get back from injury. "Even in training this week Neil Taylor has cut his head open, and I had tonsilitis last week so I don't know what we have done (to deserve such bad luck). "If we had another injury then who knows? You'd have to ask the gaffer. I don't want to think about it too much. "Obviously as a player you don't think about injuries, you hope it doesn't happen to you. But if Monks or myself do get injured then someone will have to fill in and we'll have to get on with it." There are concerns that Monk is returning ahead of schedule due to the lack of options available to Rodgers, but Williams insists his long-time defensive partner is "raring to go". "He has trained and has played a few reserve games and we are pleased for him that he will get to play in the Premier League, he deserves that," he said. "We know each other's game and he is ready. He has been doing my head in this week saying how ready he is. "I guess he might have liked a bit more time training but he is ready and if he goes in this week he is fit and sharp enough and I am sure he will go well. "He is a brilliant player, I have leant a lot from him. He has played against (West Brom striker Shane) Long before and he reads the game so well and puts himself in positions where he doesn't have to be in a race with anyone." Those attributes will be tested against the pace of Long and Peter Odemwingie, with Swansea targeting a first goal and win of the campaign. And Williams is particularly wary of the threat posed by Long, who faced Swansea in their play-off triumph at Wembley in May. He said: "We played against each other three times last season. "He is a good player, he scores goals and has some sort of Matrix-like hang time in the air. "He scored against Manchester United on his debut, which says it all, and you always thought he was one of the guys who could step up. "I have never played against Odemwingie but he looks very sharp and plays on the shoulder of the defender, he is quick and lively and it will be a tough game."
