Alan Irvine backs West Bromwich Albion captain Chris Brunt

Alan Irvine has insisted that Chris Brunt will "bounce back" after being booed by West Bromwich Albion fans in their defeat to Everton last week.

The captain was targeted by some fans while being substituted during the 2-0 loss, while one took to Twitter to say that he deserved a "bullet" in his head.

The manager told the Birmingham Mail: "I spoke to him when we came back in earlier in the week. I asked him 'how are you?' and the answer was 'I'm fine'. That was it.

"He's a Premier League player and the fact is if you're a Premier League player you have to deal with setbacks. The biggest difference I've noticed between Premier League players and those in League One is in the head.

"You have to be resilient and be able to bounce back from setbacks. Chris Brunt is a Premier League player, has been for a long time and will continue to be so."

The Baggies face Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday.