Albion head coach Roberto Di Matteo has admitted midfielder Robert Koren could still leave the Hawthorns next month.

The Baggies boss is planning to “review” Koren’s status during the transfer window with the Slovenia captain desperate for first team football. Koren admitted earlier this season that he might seek a January move after falling down the Albion pecking order.

And Di Matteo said: “I spoke to him about it just before he got injured and we said we were going to review it in January. That’s the situation.”

Di Matteo has confirmed he hopes to wrap up his first January signing in the next few days with Romania international defender Gabriel Tamas edging closer to a loan move for the rest of the season. But the head coach admitted the winter transfer window is a difficult time for clubs to trade.

“As I said this week, we’re looking to get a defender in,” he said.

“Hopefully we can sign him in the next few days so we’re covered in that area.

“It also depends on when Ishmael Miller and James Morrison are going to be ready and who leaves.

“There probably will be interest in our players but we won’t sell anyone who is part of the core.

“January is a peculiar transfer window because your targets are probably not available and if you manage to sign one of your targets they usually come at a premium in cost.

“January is not the ideal transfer window.”

Morrison is still targeting January for his comeback from the heel problem that has sidelined him since May.

The midfielder is finally beginning to step up his training, although Miller is expected to return first.

“James is getting better,” said Di Matteo. “He hasn’t started running again yet but we’re hopeful he will start his fitness work outside sooner rather than later.”