Loan signings will make or break West Brom says Mowbray

Dec 15 2008 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

TONY Mowbray admits the January transfer window will define Albion’s chances of survival.

The manager watched his side lose 4-0 against Sunderland following a first-half horror show and a penalty just after half-time.

Sunderland’s win perhaps underlined the difference between the two clubs – three of the Black Cats’ four goals were scored by Kenwyne Jones, who cost £6million, and Djibril Cisse, who has fetched in excess of £20million in his career.

Mowbray will be forced to bring in loan players during next month’s window, with no money available for transfers.

And he concedes Albion will struggle to stay up if they fail to strengthen. “If we can find a clinical cutting edge then that will make a difference, although our defending has to improve,” said Mowbray.

“We need to find someone with the desire, the hunger, the ability to score goals. If we do then I think we will have a fighting chance.

“If we can’t find that then we will struggle because we won’t score enough goals.

“Every week I seem to talk about opposition strikers. There is no money. We have to find some loans if we can and it is very difficult to find Premier League-quality strikers who are going to score you goals week in, week out.

“Who will give you a Premier League striker on loan? You tell me,” added Mowbray.