ROY Hodgson has challenged Albion to raise the stakes in the transfer market to consolidate their long-term future in the Premier League.

The Baggies boss was commenting in the light of Youssouf Mulumbu winning the Albion Disabled Supporters Club player of the year award and a succession of man-of-the-match plaudits.

Mulumbu, a £150,000 signing from Paris Saint Germain two years ago, is one of several players to have been brought in by the club’s scouting system for a low price.

Hodgson praised the work of Albion sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth, but warned it was becoming harder for clubs to pull rabbits out of the hat.

Albion are not expecting to make wholesale changes this summer – assuming they survive – with the squad likely to be fine-tuned ahead of next season.

“Dan Ashworth and his scouting staff have performed wonders,” said Hodgson.

“There have been one or two rabbits pulled out of the hat by Dan and his staff.

“My only fear is how many rabbits there are out there.

“Once you’ve pulled two or three out the next two or three might take longer to find.

“But he found Youssouf, Peter Odemwingie, Olsson perhaps, Dorrans too for which he and the scouting team deserve a lot of credit.

“Then how many more are there? Most clubs go down a different route in the Premier League.

“They spend a lot of money on tried and tested players.”

Commenting on Mulumbu, Hodgson continued: “Youssouf has certainly done very well.

“He has a lot of attributes and qualities.

“If we can stay in the Premier League and he can get more games under his belt he will get even better.

“There is a lot more to take from him and I hope he is mature enough to appreciate that it’s been a great start for him coming from France to England but now he needs to kick on and become even better, which he can, because I think he has it in him.”

Hodgson appreciates the challenges faced by clubs in the top flight, especially as more money circulates within the higher echelons of the game.

“We’re not the only club to work to a tight budget,” continued Hodgson, whose side were today heading to Tottenham.

“Fulham do, Wolves do, many clubs. What we have to try and do if we stay up is consolidate.

“How we do that is another matter. But it will be a hard task for clubs to find players for little who can then be sold for a lot of money.

“Sometimes even cheap rabbits can cost money.”