ESPNsoccernet: England

West Bromwich Albion head coach Steve Clarke will be given the support of his chairman Jeremy Peace in January to help build on the club's excellent start to the season.

Steve Clarke is hopeful of improving his squad in January (PA Photos)

• Blog: It won't happen

Albion remain fifth in the Premier League despite losing their last two matches and Clarke is set to hold discussions regarding the winter transfer window having been given assurances there will be money to spend to cover losing players for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Peter Odemwingie and Youssouf Mulumbu are both expected to be called up for the finals in South Africa next month, which will leave Clarke short of two key players for possibly three weeks.

The Albion boss has revealed he has already held preliminary discussions with sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth regarding possible additions to the existing squad.

"There's a possibility we lose a couple of players to the Africa Cup of Nations, we could lose players to injury, but when we get closer to the end of the month we'll start to make decisions," Clarke said.

"I haven't really discussed with the chairman [Jeremy Peace] about the way forward in January. That's why we have a technical director. He's the buffer. We have spoken about what we might need to do in January.

"If the chairman, Dan and I decide we need to strengthen the squad, then we can do that. Is there money there? Yes I think there is."

Ashworth is contracted to remain at the Hawthorns for the January window, despite agreeing to take up a post with the Football Association at St George's Park and he already has a list of potential targets to improve the squad.