West Brom need a bigger squad for Steve Clarke

West Brom boss Steve Clarke today claimed the club need a bigger squad as he hinted their lack of depth was exposed in his first season in charge.

The Baggies head coach believes his squad needs a boost for his second campaign at the helm as he continues to weigh up potential summer transfer targets.

Clarke oversaw Albion's best ever Premier League season but saw his side fall away after Christmas following a flying start.

He said: "There is a lot of work to be done over the summer. We have to look at the squad and look to boost it to give it more help.

"In the second half of the season we saw how light we were as a squad. We need more quality players and we probably need a slightly bigger squad."

Clarke is due back at the Baggies training ground this week following a family holiday and is expected to get a progress report on potential transfer deals.

He is also likely to seek talks in the next few days with his friend and returning Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho over the future of Romelu Lukaku.

Meanwhile, Clarke believes he will learn from the difficult end to West Brom's season, which saw them win just four of their last 19 league games.

He said: "It was a great challenge and one that I have waited a long time for. I suppose, in a perverse kind of way, I have enjoyed i.

"The second half of the season has been more difficult and challenging and probably, in a perverse kind of way, more enjoyable than the first half."