West Brom have suffered a massive blow with the news that Filipe Teixeira faces up to eight months out of action with cruciate ligament damage.Teixeira suffered the setback during last Saturday's 3-0 win over Plymouth at The Hawthorns and a scan has confirmed the club's worst fears.

The stylish midfield playmaker will obtain a second opinion in his native Portugal but Baggies boss Tony Mowbray is not anticipating having him available again until November.

However Mowbray - planning for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final with Bristol Rovers - has challenged his players to ensure Teixeira can look forward to playing Premier League football by the time he is ready to return.

He said: "First and foremost my thoughts are with Filipe. It is a huge blow for him.

"For us, he has contributed exceptionally well this year and made a big impact on the team and he will be a big loss to us.

"Having said that, we have got a squad of players who will pick up the baton and get on with it for the rest of the season.

"Hopefully when he is fully recovered, let's hope we are in a position to offer him Premier League football. That has got to be challenge for the squad.

"Filipe is going to travel back to Portugal to get a second opinion but it looks like he will need reconstruction surgery. He's expected to be out for a minimum of six months.

"But it will probably be around November time before he is ready."

Albion face three games in six days with home league games against Crystal Palace and Leicester following on from the cup meeting with Rovers.

But Mowbray insists that will not affect his selection policy against the League One side who have already caused upsets in defeating Fulham and Southampton in the competition this season.

He said: "There will be changes from game to game but I don't put weaker teams out, I put different teams out and trust in the quality of the players you have got available.

"I try to pick the best team for the opposition you are playing and I anticipate Sunday might be a different type of game to Wednesday and you pick the players that are more suited to the different games."

Mowbray will not use the poor condition of the pitch at the Memorial Ground as an excuse if Albion, who are renowned for their slick passing game, are turned over by Rovers.

He said: "Conditions can even situations up a little bit but it will be the same for both teams. We go there fully understanding we will not be playing on a pristine pitch and if the wind blows, the wind blows.

"We will go and compete the best we can as I am sure they will. We played on a pretty poor pitch at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek and came through that challenge.

"There will be no excuses about the pitch. If we don't get the right result, I won't be mentioning the pitch after the game as an excuse for what has happened.

"We have got to play effective football and we will see how things are and make assessments on the day in terms of how we are going to play."

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