PORTUGESE defender Tininho has been released by West Bromwich Albion.

The left-back joined Albion from Beira Mar last summer in a £230,000 deal but made only one appearance for the club in their opening Coca-Cola Championship clash against Barnsley last season.

The 27-year-old later joined the Tykes on loan, and following his return home is expected to join Portuguese side Leixoes.

WEST Bromwich Albion received some welcome news yesterday when defender Abdoulaye Meite signed for £2million.

The deal for the 27-year-old had earlier this week been described as "dead in the water" by manager Tony Mowbray but after his side's final pre-season run out against Real Mallorca he intimated the transfer was on the brink of being resurrected.

He also admitted the transfer window has been a frustrating time and could not resist having a swipe at the "outsiders" who, he says, have made his life more complicated than it should have been this summer.

If it were possible for football agents to have gone down in Mowbray's estimations, they have come close in the past couple of months.

BAGGIES old boy Daryl Burgess has reassured Albion that the experienced head of former team-mate Neil Clement will help them thwart the Premier League's predators.

The strength of Tony Mowbray's backline has been a cause of much concern at The Hawthorns with the boss searching all summer for rearguard reinforcements.

But Burgess, who played alongside Clement during the early days of the Gary Megson era in 2000, believes the former Chelsea defender still has a big part to play.

It seemed like the days of Albion's longest servant were numbered when he was sent on loan to Hull City last season after recovering from a long-term knee problem.

Clement has reinvented himself, however, and towards the end of last term returned to The Hawthorns to play an influential role in his third promotion with West Brom.

And Burgess believes Clement's experience could be invaluable for Albion as the Championship title winners try to contain the top flight's unforgiving forwards.

ALBION paraded the Championship trophy before Saturday's friendly against Real Mallorca but they go into this weekend's game at Arsenal with many questions remaining unanswered.

Who, for instance, will play in goal? My money's on Scott Carson. At the back, will Neil Clement be fit? If not, who will play in his place? Not many options really, are there?

The midfield isn't a critical issue, but up front there is the option of Roman Bednar or Ishmael Miller if Tony Mowbray opts for one up front. Miller may get the nod there. Luke Moore probably won't be fit in time. Given the way he's played during pre-season, that won't be a major loss.

And then there's the formation - five in midfield or four, with two up front? The agony of choice.

What is fairly clear is that this Albion side, as it stands, is not quite good enough to stay up. It is arguably worse than the team which won promotion following the departures of Zoltan Gera and Kevin Phillips.

ALBION were today waiting to find out whether their pursuit of Abdoulaye Meite has been successful.

The Ivory Coast centre-half left Bolton's pre-season tour of Greece and went straight to Albion's training ground yesterday lunchtime to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.

He was accompanied by his representatives before being given a tour of the facilities and meeting Albion's coaching staff.

Both Albion and Hull City had bids of around £2million, plus £500,000 add-ons, accepted by Bolton on Thursday night.

And, despite Hull's interest, Hawthorns' officials were last night confident of signing the player, not least as the player has indicated that he favours a move to the Hawthorns.