Dave Kemp is keen for the West Brom kids to shine

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Alex Pritchard has played just 70 minutes of football since arriving at The Hawthorns in January while other youngsters have made the bench in the domestic cup competitions.

Albion head to relegation-battling Sunderland in the Premier League tomorrow, where any positive result would see them hit the 40-point mark.

Calls have been made for 22-year-old Pritchard to be handed a shot in Tony Pulis's first-team, but Kemp believes that it is tougher to come in and impress while the chips are down.

Pritchard featured briefly last time out against Norwich for the first time since Albion's Cup exit at Reading.

Kemp said: "It gave him an opportunity. It's awkward, everybody else is playing poorly, it's not easy.

"You go on and the team is playing well, it's much easier.

"He's a good footballer, no question about that. It wasn't the best stage for him because the team's not playing well – it makes it awkward for him."

A taste of Premier League football has been tough to come by for the Baggies' next generation.

Goalkeeper Jack Rose, defender Shaun Donnellan and forwards Tyler Roberts and Jonathan Leko have all made the bench this season.

Highly-rated 16-year-old Leko was given a run-out in September's League Cup exit at Norwich, but the others have yet to make their senior competitive bow.

Recent history of graduating from the academy is bright, with Saido Berahino coming through the Albion ranks and making a big impact in the first-team.

Isaiah Brown became Albion's youngest-ever Premier League player in the 2012/13 season but was swiftly snapped up by Chelsea and is currently on loan at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, while Jerome Sinclair left The Hawthorns to join Liverpool as a 14-year-old.

With their Premier League status all but secured, Kemp revealed that he is anticipating fresh faces to take their chance.

He added: "I wouldn't want to pre-judge that, we want all sorts of people pushing for places, rather than just one.

"We were talking about the younger players earlier, we want someone to come through and say there's an opportunity there for me coming off the back of that performance, so we'll be looking at everybody."

While the 1-0 defeat against Norwich last time out hurt Albion's chances of mounting a late charge for the European places, the importance of tomorrow's game to their hosts was summed up by Jack Rodwell's assertion it is "win or bust".

The Mackems midfielder, who recently returned to fitness after a spell on the sidelines, said: "It is a massive game. Eight more to go. Every game is a cup final, it is a cliché but it is true. It is a must win for us.

"We have done nearly enough to win but hopefully we can do it this time."

The hosts enter the game on the back of a 1-1 derby draw with Newcastle prior to the international break. Sam Allardyce's side led through Jermaine Defoe and were seven minutes from securing victory before Aleksander Mitrovic's late equaliser for their rivals left both teams in the relegation zone.

Rodwell added: "We were unlucky in the derby and have two massive home games now.

"West Brom are hard to break down, solid defensively, but we have got to go for it.

"We have got a good team to kick on in the league. We have game winners.

"Physically I feel better now. I am in a good place. I can give 100 per cent. I have been playing well and I am physically confident. Once I am at that I feel I can really help the team."