Di Matteo predicts an exciting future

Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has predicted an exciting future at the Hawthorns and claimed the Baggies' young team will continue getting better.

Di Matteo believes the fans can look forward to the next few seasons with the likes of Graham Dorrans, James Morrison, Simon Cox and Giles Barnes still in their early 20s.

And the head coach reckons the team spirit that has helped the club win promotion this season will be crucial to their chances of Premier League survival.

He said: "All season it's been very much a team effort and that has been the focus of our philosophy.

"It's a very young squad and this club can look forward to the next few years quite comfortably, because these players are going to get better.

"It's fantastic to see all the fans so excited and now we've got the next challenge, next year, trying to be positive and finish as high up the table as we can.

"The team spirit in a team is very important and it was very strong this year. We had to work on it because it doesn't just come. But we did work on it and the players have been fantastic.

"Over a long season you need to have a good spirit, because there are going to be some moments where the team have to pull together and help each other to pull out some results in difficult times.

"It was nice not to have our unbeaten run ended and we go into the holidays with a great feeling."

The Italian is keen to build his campaign for Premier League survival on the foundations laid in the Championship, with Dorrans heading a list of impressive performers.

But the Baggies boss is also keen to add Premier League experience to his dressing room.

Chairman Jeremy Peace has already placed the focus on increased wages over transfer fees, in a bid to attract seasoned top-flight campaigners to the club.

And Di Matteo is meeting with the Hawthorns hierarchy this week to plan their summer strategy.

He said: "We have a very young, inexperienced team but they are talented so I would like to keep our core group together and build on them to create a strong team."