Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has admitted he might struggle to recruit experience in January because older players are more costly.

The head coach reckons buying British talent could also prove too expensive as he looks to fine-tune his squad for a New Year promotion push. The Baggies are narrowing down their list of possible January targets with five weeks to go before the transfer window reopens.

But Di Matteo has stressed that adding experience to his relatively young side will not be easy.

He said: “We will see what happens. But it’s not so easy to find the right player for right position at the right age. They usually come at a premium.”

Albion have climbed to second in the table with their youngest side in recent years. The starting line-up against Bristol City on Saturday had an average age of less than 24 and Abdoulaye Meite at 29, with 26-year-olds Jonas Olsson and Jerome Thomas the only players over 25.

But Di Matteo believes there are advantages to fielding a younger side.

He said: “We’ve got Abou Meite in the team now, which gives us some experience. A little bit of inconsistency often comes with inexperience. But you also get enthusiasm.”

Albion have turned the focus of their transfer activity to young, British talent since Di Matteo’s arrival with Thomas, Simon Cox, Joe Mattock and Reuben Reid among the arrivals.