New West Brom signing Branislav Ivanovic was an obvious absentee at the weekend as the Baggies suffered heartbreak during their league game with top four contenders Tottenham Hotspur. West Brom started the Spurs game at home as heavy underdogs and were so close to earning a point before Harry Kane broke their resolve.

The game was heading for a goalless draw until the England skipper popped up with the only goal of the game to hand three points to his team.

Branislav Ivanovic had been a regular feature in the Baggies defence for the last few weeks until the Spurs game on Sunday afternoon. It has now been revealed that the Serbian international defender sat out the game after testing positive to the dreaded Covid-19. His West Brom teammate Matheus Pereira also missed the game for the same reason.

Matheus Pereira and Branislav Ivanovic are expected to be back in action when the Premier League resumes after the ongoing international break. West Brom have a tough fixture when league football returns. The Baggies will travel to face top four contenders Manchester United who have surprisingly not won any of their four home games this season.

Ivanovic and West Brom have three points from the opening eight games of the current Premier League season. The Baggies have not won any game in the league since the season started in September and that has left them in the relegation zone. An unlikely victory at Old Trafford in their next Premier League match could be enough to see them climb out of the relegation zone.

West Brom added the experience of veteran defender Branislav Ivanovic to their ranks at the start of the season but the 36-year-old is yet to have the desired effect. The ex-Chelsea player signed for the Baggies as a free agent.