CHRIS KIRKLAND has been ruled out of West Brom's next two matches and probably England's friendly against Argentina after suffering heavy bruising to one of his kidneys during last Sunday's Premiership defeat at Bolton.
Kirkland, on loan for the season from Liverpool, needed lengthy treatment after a first-half knock although he played on for the remainder of the game.
But the England squad keeper went to see a specialist and he has been advised to rest for two to four weeks.
Kirkland will miss the Baggies' home match with Newcastle on Sunday and the trip to West Ham on November 5. It also means he will almost certainly be unavailable for England's friendly with Argentina in Geneva on November 12.
Albion manager Bryan Robson has recalled Russell Hoult from a loan spell with Nottingham Forest to cover for Kirk-land's absence.
Robson said: "Chris had a really bad knock against Bolton on Sunday. We thought he had got away with it but the severity of the knock has caused him to suffer bruising to one of his kidneys.
"It is nothing serious but the advice of the doctors is to rest him for two to four weeks. Both Chris and the club have got to take that medical advice on board.
"He will miss the Newcastle and West Ham games but we hope he will be back after the international break."
It is a second setback for Albion who will also be without defender Paul Robinson for three games as a result of his sendingoff against Fulham in the Carling Cup.
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