Di Matteo's urge for young guns

Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has urged the club's young guns to aim for professional careers as they geared up for the FA Youth Cup derby with Villa.

The head coach will be at the Hawthorns tonight to watch the fourth round clash and is challenging Keith Downing's side to follow in the footsteps of Chris Wood and George Thorne.

Striker Wood signed a long-term deal last week, as midfielder Thorne penned his first professional contract.

Di Matteo said: "It should encourage them. Those players have been rewarded and it shows that if you work hard and progress you can be rewarded.

"People have seen that and, during the season, some of the lads have trained with us and some of them have even been on the bench."

Di Matteo is keen to support Albion's ever-improving academy but admitted developing and keeping young players will always prove difficult.

He said: "It's always important to have players coming through your academy. But it's difficult to produce a collection of them.

"The statistics show you that it's one or two that come through."